Idaho committee approves resolutions calling for balanced-budget, term-limits and pathway to Article V convention after hours of testimony

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee voted 8-7 on Thursday to send two related concurrent resolutions to the full House with a “do pass” recommendation after hours of public testimony and debate.

House Concurrent Resolution 10 (HCR 10) asks Congress to call an Article V convention to propose a balanced-budget amendment, congressional term limits and other limits on federal power; House Concurrent Resolution 9 (HCR 9) would lay out rules for how Idaho would select and constrain its commissioners if a convention were called. Committee members approved both measures separately, sending each to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation.

Supporters argued the measures are a legitimate, constitutional tool to rein in federal spending and limit what they described as federal overreach. Opponents warned the constitutional text is silent on many procedural questions about a convention and said HCR 9 cannot legally bind delegates if Congress or a convention chooses different procedures.

Representative Jordan Redmond, the bill sponsor, told the committee HCR 9 sets “safeguards and accountability to ensure that there would never be a runaway convention,” and said HCR 10…