{"id":19437,"date":"2026-02-08T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T19:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gemstatepatriot.com\/blog\/?p=19437"},"modified":"2026-02-08T12:53:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T19:53:33","slug":"here-we-go-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gemstatepatriot.com\/blog\/here-we-go-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Here We Go Again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2024, the Convention of States (COS) was actively urging Idaho to pass resolutions advancing its agenda to call for a Constitutional Convention for amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Rep. Tanner<\/a>, and others<\/a>, supported a resolution for term limits<\/a>, Sen. Ricks and Vander Woude supported a balanced budget resolution<\/a>, while Sen. Lakey, and others<\/a>, supported a balanced budget<\/a> and term limit resolution. A series of articles were written on COS in 2024 with a historical review<\/a> of Article V, COS background<\/a> work in Idaho and political interference<\/a>, and individuals behind the organization<\/a>. All 2024 legislative resolutions<\/a> failed<\/a> to move forward<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, COS indirectly shamed<\/a> Idaho for \u201cchoosing to stay on the sidelines\u201d and not continue its quest for a Convention. But COS is now back at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this 2026 legislative session, Rep. Tanner<\/a>, Sen. Ricks<\/a>, Rep. Vander Woude<\/a>, and Rep. Shirts<\/a> have introduced HCR 25<\/a> for a balanced budget amendment which was referred to the House State Affairs committee<\/a>. Rep. Shirts introduced HCR 23<\/a> for the term limit amendment and it has been referred to the House Judiciary, Rules & Administration committee<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a group of national COS supporters including Mark Levin<\/a>, Rick Santorum<\/a> (who received<\/a> $335,483 in 2024), Ted Cruz<\/a>, and Marco Rubio<\/a>. The list of those currently endorsing<\/a> COS includes current government officials who could fix the budget and term limit issues now, while in office, instead of going through a time consuming and potentially dangerous process for a convention to fix the problems. What’s up with that? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even crazier, Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson<\/a>, is on<\/a> the list of supporters<\/a>! Why doesn’t he use his current role to facilitate balanced budget and term limit legislation or amendments<\/a>? Why doesn\u2019t Sen. Paul and Sen. Cruz get together and get the job done? Maybe because amendments on those issues really aren’t wanted. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis<\/a> has even been in Idaho<\/a> supporting<\/a> COS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. Tanner<\/a> continues as an advocate for Constitutional amendments. Rep. Joe Alfieri<\/a> had an interesting comment<\/a> on COS, \u201dWe have a process problem\u2014the process problem that exists is the way that the federal government is functioning,\u201d…\u201dIt\u2019s the states\u2019 right to define what the federal government does. We have to take that right back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With all due respect to Rep. Alfieri, it is the federal government not following the Constitution that is the problem, and it is not state rights<\/a> that define what the federal government does which has been challenged<\/a> many times in court. What the federal government does, or at least supposed to do, is outlined in the U.S. Constitution with defined enumerated powers<\/a>, and to pay its debts<\/a>. As for a balanced budget, Idaho doesn’t seem to have any problem taking<\/a> federal money even though that money contributes to a deficit ridden federal budget. Maybe Idaho should exercise its state right to decline that federal money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This historical perspective discusses<\/a> how the federal budgetary process has been warped over the years. Congress has just added laws to justify its maleficence. There are also some<\/a> who describe<\/a> how a balanced budget<\/a> amendment would not work<\/a>, mostly due to the feckless nature of Congress. An amendment doesn’t fix bad behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back to COS, the below PDF lists Idaho elected officials who received money from the COS Action political committee<\/a> in 2024, including some who are again supporting COS. The COS Action<\/a> 2024 Form 990<\/a> also lists these candidates, and a few others, in supporting its mission. The COS political committee was terminated in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n