DeSantis blasts 'permanent bureaucracy', calls for Article V convention to limit congressional term

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis launched a renewed offensive against career politicians on Friday, December 12, urging state legislators to force a constitutional amendment that would impose term limits on members of Congress.

Speaking at the Congressional Term Limits Retreat in Delray Beach, DeSantis argued that Washington will never reform itself and that states must utilize their constitutional power to intervene.

"The Congress has neutered itself and GIVEN power to the permanent bureaucracy!" DeSantis declared in a fiery address. "It has GROWN dramatically over the last 50 years! They DON’T use the power of the purse!"

He contended that the lack of turnover has created a class of lawmakers more beholden to the administrative state than to their constituents.

'Momentum is building' for Article V convention

DeSantis is championing a strategy that bypasses Congress entirely: an Article V convention. Under the US Constitution, if two-thirds of state legislatures (34 states) apply for a convention, they can propose amendments without federal approval.

"Twelve states have passed resolutions for term limits, and we need 22 more to reach the threshold for a single-issue convention," DeSantis wrote on X following the event. "The momentum is building!"

The governor stated he was "pleased to speak with legislators from around the country who recognize the necessity to restore the temporary nature of public service."

Low approval, high reelection

The push for term limits is fueled by a stark disconnect between congressional performance and job security.

DeSantis highlighted that while Congress's approval ratings hover dismally between 15% and 35%, incumbent reelection rates remain staggering - between 95% and 97% in 2024.

Advocates argue this proves that the current system is insulated from voter dissatisfaction, necessitating structural change. The proposed amendment, backed by groups like US Term Limits, typically calls for three terms for House members and two terms for Senators.

Countering fears of a 'runaway' bureaucracy

Addressing critics who fear that inexperienced lawmakers would be easily manipulated by long-serving agency officials, DeSantis flipped the argument on its head.

He asserted that the current system of entrenched politicians has already resulted in a surrender of authority.

"ureaucrats would control everything?" DeSantis asked rhetorically. "The Congress has neutered itself... It has GROWN dramatically over the last 50 years!"

By rotating members more frequently, proponents believe Congress would be more responsive to the public and less likely to defer to the "growing administrative state".