Heartland Institute Experts Comment on Missouri Senate’s Passage of the Compact for a Balanced Budget

Published April 29, 2015

The Missouri state Senate on Monday passed Senate Bill 433, known as a the Compact for a Balanced Budget bill. The bill introduced by Greene County, Missouri state Senator Bob Dixon (R) outlines the state’s membership in the Compact for a Balanced Budget along with calling for an Article V Convention to pass a federal Balanced Budget Amendment. The Senate approved the bill by a vote of 27 to 6.

Language in the bill would allow Missouri to appoint one individual to the Compact Commission before all spots are filled. Members of the Compact Commission would be appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate. Each state would be allowed to appoint three individuals to an Article V Convention.

The States of North Dakota, Mississippi, Alaska, and Georgia have already enacted legislation this year adopting the Compact for a Balanced Budget. Lawmakers in Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and North Carolina are also considering similar legislation.

The bill now advances to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration. Republicans control the lower chamber by a 117 to 45 margin.

The following statements from Constitutional Reform experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Heartland’s Project Manager of Constitutional Reform Kyle Maichle at [email protected] and 312/377-4000 or (cell) 920/319-6827.


“Missouri is only one step away from joining the Compact for a Balanced Budget–a solemn contract among the states to advance, propose and ratify a powerful federal Balanced Budget Amendment. With Alaska, Georgia , Mississippi and North Dakota already adopting the Compact, and 16 congressmen from 13 states advancing the congressional resolution needed to activate. it, we could have a fully ratified federal Balanced Budget Amendment in place by the summer of 2017 or sooner.”

Nick Dranias
Policy Advisor and Research Fellow
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
602/228-2582


“I congratulate Missouri for adding to the growing ranks of Americans calling for fundamental fiscal reform of our Constitution. This is truly a measure to limit our runaway Big Government.”

Peter Ferrara
Senior Fellow for Entitlement and Budget Policy
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
703/582-8466
Mr. Ferrara is the author of America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb (2011)


The Heartland Institute is a 31-year-old national nonprofit organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000.