Florida House Leader Driskell Blasts DeSantis's 'Political Stunt' Trip to Idaho, Montana

Florida House Leader Fentrice Driskell ripped Gov. Ron DeSantis's trip to Idaho and Montana on Monday as a "political stunt," accusing the governor of neglecting real Florida issues.

Rep. Driskell, from Tampa, spoke to reporters on a Monday morning Zoom call ahead of DeSantis's western excursion encouraging state legislatures to demand a constitutional amendment forcing Congress to balance the budget. Driskell thinks it's a "political stunt."

"Neither of those places is Florida. We have real issues right here," she said. "Why is the governor traveling to these states, one, during a work week? Second, who is paying for this trip?... Where are his proposals on property insurance and lowering the cost of living?"

Florida has one of the most volatile insurance markets in the country, reported Florida PACE, a financing program for homeowners. Homeowners insurance is nearly double the national average, due to a high frequency of natural disasters, inflation, and insurer withdrawals.

Why Was DeSantis Out West?

DeSantis spoke alongside Idaho Gov. Brad Little, and later Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, on Monday.

All Republicans, the three conservatives urged the western state legislatures to follow Florida and 26 other states to pass a resolution forcing Congress to call a convention to add a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. This is in response to a June congressional report, which found that the national debt will top $56 trillion by 2034.

If 34 states ask for the constitutional convention, Congress must comply. It would be the first convention held in the nation's history. The Constitution's current 27 Amendments were proposed by a two-thirds vote in both Congressional chambers, not by a delegation at a convention.

Both methods of proposing an amendment require ratification by 38 states (three-fourths).

The national debt now stands at $36.6 trillion—and it's climbing. Although the country hasn't had a balanced budget since President Bill Clinton, the national deficit recently deepened due to billions in foreign aid to Israel and Ukraine, and the billions canceled in student loan debt.