Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte in Helena on Monday, advocating for a balanced federal budget. The visit followed DeSantis’s earlier appearance in Boise, Idaho. They addressed over 70 attendees, including Montana legislators, emphasizing fiscal responsibility at the state level.
“Take us, we have a requirement to balance the budget. I think Montana does too,” DeSantis said. “Most states do.” The governors proposed a constitutional amendment to prevent Congress from spending beyond its annual revenue. Republicans currently control both Congress and the presidency.
“While every business, school district, city or family must balance their budgets, sadly, the U.S. government doesn’t have to do the same,” Gianforte stated. In 2024, the U.S. faced a nearly $1.8 trillion deficit, increasing the $36 trillion national debt.
Credit: Zeke Lloyd / MTFP
“We know we’re going to have a big problem if we continue going in the direction that we’re going,” DeSantis said. Montana lawmakers discussed bills to curb national spending in 2023, but none passed. Similar 2025 proposals have stalled. “It’s not over till it’s over,” Gianforte remarked on the pending legislation. “There’s still time to get stuff done. It’s not done until they sine die [adjourn the session] and go home.”
Patrick Barkey, from the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Research, noted that the impact of a balanced federal budget on Montana is uncertain. “There’re any number of things that the federal government does that move the needle in the Montana economy,” Barkey explained, citing projects like missile improvements and VA hospital expansions.
Barkey warned that Montana receives more federal dollars than it contributes, meaning budget trims could hurt dependent communities. However, minor cuts now might avert bigger issues later. The economic effect hinges on specific budget-balancing policies. “All I know is that the numbers are big and the changes have to be meaningful,” Barkey said.
DeSantis and Gianforte expressed optimism about the idea’s potential, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility. DeSantis stated, “We can get all the policy right in Florida, you get all the policy right in Montana… but ultimately, our country is so fiscally insolvent that we have some major crisis that could upend everything.”
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