Paul McElroy MT Testimony: Broken Budget Process

Attachment: 4651/Paul_McElroy_MT_Testimony_-_Broken_Budget_Process.docx

Broken Budget Process

Mr. Chairman and Committee Members

My name is Paul McElroy, Pastor of Mountain View Fellowship, from HD79.

The bond market is showing great concern about our $2 trillion annual deficits and the $36 trillion national debt. Whether we like it or not, bond traders understand that debt cannot keep growing without a plan to repay it; because they are in the business of getting repaid.

When we were here two years ago, the U.S. debt was just over $31 trillion. At this rate, it will exceed $50 trillion in just five years. By the end of this decade, interest on the debt will become the largest line item in the federal budget, surpassing Social Security, Medicare, and even Defense. It will be almost equal to the total amount we pay in income taxes.

To put this in perspective:

* One Trillion is a Thousand-Billion, or a Million-Million.
* One Trillion seconds is 32,000 years.
* We are now adding a Trillion dollars in debt every 100 days.

You have the power to stop this madness. By supporting a Convention of States, you can help propose amendments to limit federal spending and overreach. Or you can continue to watch as the federal government’s fiscal irresponsibility leads to our collapse.

In our lifetimes, Congress has rejected a balanced budget amendment over 100 times and it’s not going to change anytime soon.

With 19 States on board, we are well on our way to reaching a majority to tackle this crisis; and Montana is uniquely positioned to keep the momentum going and help us get the ball over the goal line.

We want members of this body to go and participate in a process that will propose amendments to reign in the federal government. We want well crafted amendments from that convention to come back to this body for consideration and possible ratification.

This is your chance to act on an issue of great importance. Vote yes on HJ5 and help rein in the federal government’s unchecked power.

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Created:	2025-03-11 17:59 GMT
Updated:	2025-03-11 18:05 GMT
Published:	2025-03-11 17:59 GMT
Converted:	2025-11-11 12:35 GMT
Change Author:	Daniella Landivar
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