Vick: U.S. budget must be balanced

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — The convention of states movement remains critical to government even though a resolution calling for a proposal amending the Constitution to require a federal balanced budget didn't pass the Idaho Legislature last session, a state senator said.

A convention of states is a convention called by the state legislatures to propose amendments to the Constitution. Article V of the Constitution allows such power.

"Having this debate to amend the Constitution is good because it reminds us that we can do it," Idaho Sen. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, told a local Republican club, the Panhandle Pachyderms, at Red Lion Templin's Hotel in Post Falls on Friday.

The movement also exposes the need at the federal level for a balanced budget — something that is already required in Idaho — and it stresses the importance of the Constitution as it has been taken to many as simply "a booklet of suggestions," Vick said.

"Anything that awakens our need to have the Constitution is a good thing."

Vick was among 10 Idaho lawmakers sent to a planning meeting in Arizona in September to debate details for carrying out a growing national effort to amend the Constitution to require a balanced U.S. budget. The event included representatives from 19 states — all GOP-controlled.

Vick was among the majority who opposed the resolution in the Senate during the last Idaho Legislature.

"I think that it's good to require the federal government to have a balanced budget, but as far as how we get there is the question," he said.

"The risk is greater than the reward. Due to so much information that's generated now in a short period of time, it seems that the unintended consequences (of how amendments are written) would be pretty high. I believe our courts would have to be reined in before a balanced budget amendment would do any good."

Vick said he believes the Constitution is already an outstanding document that doesn't allow for much of the spending that is taking place.

"If that was closer adhered to, there would not be a need (for an amendment requiring a balanced U.S. budget)," he said.

Vick said he doesn't believe a similar resolution will come back before Idaho legislators until 2019 at the earliest.

Twenty-seven states have active requests to convene a convention for a balanced budget amendment. Approval is needed from 34 state legislatures to amend the Constitution through a convention.

Mark Comer, a Pachyderm member from Worley, said he believes such an amendment deserves serious consideration.

"The bridge is out and the train is going full speed (with the federal budget)," Comer said.

Convention of states can't throw out the Constitution because its authority is derived from the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Vick briefed Pachyderm members on the upcoming legislative session that will start in January.

State agencies recently delivered their budget requests to Gov. Butch Otter and, if they're all approved, it would represent an 11.3 percent increase in spending, Vick said.

"Our economy is growing 2.8 percent in Idaho," Vick said.

While Otter typically whittles down the requests some to limit the spending increase, Vick said he senses a budget problem will arise if the budget ax isn't enforced enough.

Vick said education spending has increased 23 percent over the past three years. He said he doesn't have an issue with teacher pay, but does with the number of administrators needed.

"Administrators are everywhere, and that's a real issue," he said.

Vick said there's too much bureaucracy in schools due to mandates from the state and federal governments.

"We have to be willing to say that they should be run by themselves (at the local level) because the rules are overwhelming," he said.

Medicaid expansion didn't come up in the last session and Vick said he doesn't believe it will in the upcoming Legislature either.

"There's just not enough votes in Idaho to pass it and now with Trump as president it will be even less likely," Vick said.