HB1429 extends North Dakota's current membership in the Compact for a Balanced Budget through 2031.
The Senate passed HB1429 on March 22, 2021 by a vote of 37 to 10. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this legislation unconstitutionally pre-ratifies a Balanced Budget Amendment before a constitutional convention convenes. An Article V Constitutional Convention proposal could cause serious damage to our constitution and there is no evidence that such amendment would fix our financial problems. Article V of the U.S. Constitution was designed to correct structural deficiencies in the federal government, not the behavior of its elected officials.
United States Constitution
Article V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
