From the floor of the House, Rep Jody Arrington (R-TX) has made the call for an Article V Convention of States to propose amendments to the Constitution to rein in our out-of-control borrowing and spending.

As far back as 1979, the needed 34 state applications for a state-driven convention have been on file in Congress — languishing. Per Article V, Congress was supposed to call on the states to take action. But Congress has simply shrugged off its obligation — a virtual pocket veto of Congress’ shall call obligation.

Today’s $37 Trillion operating budget debt, not to mention over $100 Trillion in unfunded obligations, is pushing our country to the brink of fiscal collapse — and there are no other countries that will bail us out. We’re headed toward a fiscal cliff.

This issue transcends all current-day political parties and agendas. Fiscal responsibility must be addressed directly, and both political parties in Washington have plainly failed to do it for decades.

Article V grants our state legislatures the authority to amend our federal constitution without the permission or control of Congress, the president, or the Supreme Court.

Once ratified by 38 state legislatures, state-proposed fiscal responsibility amendments become part of our federal constitution, just as if Congress had proposed them.

Kudos to Rep. Arrington for his 3-minute passionate speech, calling out the existential threat and calling on our state legislatures to hold their convention and propose amendments that will finally force fiscal responsibility on Congress.