Wyoming House Calls For Balanced Federal Budget

The Wyoming House of Representatives on Thursday called for a national convention to put forward a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

While most Wyoming House members say they want a federal balanced budget amendment, many said they were worried that any constitutional convention would not be limited to that topic.

Concerns were raised that states such as California would pack any such convention with delegates who might try to get rid of the Second Amendment in the name of gun control and would abridge the First Amendment as well.

Republican Rep. Roy Edwards said he was concerned bout those who may try to change the federal system to a parliamentary democracy or would try to erase state lines to create large provinces, such as those found in Canada. But Rep. Nathan Winters ( R-Park, Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs) said a companion resolution passed earlier in the day demanding any convention itself to one topic only should put those fears to rest.

The final vote was 35-23 in favor of House Joint Resolution 2 on third and final reading with two absent.