HCR25 applies to Congress for an Article V convention to propose a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The resolution calls for a convention "limited" to requiring that—except during a national emergency—annual federal spending not exceed annual federal revenues, along with related fiscal restraints.
The Idaho State House of Representatives passed HCR25 on February 6, 2026 by a vote of 36 to 34. We have assigned pluses to the nays because efforts to call an Article V "convention of the states" must be resisted. A constitutional convention (Con-Con) would have the power to make major changes to the U.S. Constitution, or even completely rewrite it. Instead of failing to uphold their oath of office and risking the danger of a "runaway convention," which could act as a "trojan horse" to destroy many of the Constitution's limitations on government power, state legislators should act to immediately nullify all unconstitutional federal laws. Whenever the federal government assumes undelegated powers, in blatant violation of the 10th Amendment, nullification of such lawless acts is the proper remedy. Article V was designed to correct potential errors or defects in the Constitution, not to "misconstrue or abuse its powers." We must use Article VI to enforce the Constitution, rather than use Article V to alter or abolish it.
