Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday said members of Congress should face term limits so they’re forced to live as civilians under the laws they pass, drawing applause from Iowa voters he’s desperate to sway in the sprint to the Jan. 15 caucuses.
Mr. DeSantis, speaking in Coralville, also said Congress should pass a balanced budget with the help of a president’s line-item veto power that could erase items without blocking entire spending bills.
The Republican presidential candidate outlined Washington reforms during a stop with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in the final sprint to the caucuses. Mr. DeSantis said the U.S. is on the wrong course and Iowa voters will play a big role in correcting it.
“Your voice will have a huge impact on the future of this country,” he said. “I’m going to get the job done across the board.”
Voters peppered him with broad questions about government spending, crisis management and his favorite Christmas traditions, though his push to cap lawmakers’ tenures drew some of the biggest applause.
“I think we need term limits for members of Congress so they can get the job done, go home and live under the laws that they pass,” Mr. DeSantis said.
Mr. DeSantis is completing a six-day swing through Iowa as he tries to make inroads in massive support for ex-President Donald Trump, who holds a massive lead over the Republican presidential field.
An Emerson College poll released Wednesday said Mr. Trump has 50% backing from Republican voters in Iowa.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley stands at 17%, overtaking Mr. DeSantis at 15%, the poll said.
The Florida governor is getting support from wingmen like Rep. Chip Roy, Texas Republican, and Mr. Stitt, who said Mr. DeSantis would take on entrenched political interests.
“The reason I’m here and I’m endorsing Gov. DeSantis is I’ve watched how he leads,” Mr. Stitt said. “DeSantis does not back down. He is a leader that will do what he says; he will get the job done.”
Mr. DeSantis promised to root out diversity, equity and inclusion training in the military, saying it’s sapping morale, and said the U.S. must take a second look at rules that let children of illegal immigrants get automatic citizenship when they’re born in this country.
“I don’t think people who come to the country illegally are entitled to birthright citizenship,” he said. “Very few countries do birthright citizenship for [children of illegal aliens].”
Earlier this week, Mr. DeSantis dismissed calls to remove himself from the Colorado primary ballot.
Fellow GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he would do exactly that in protest of Mr. Trump being removed from the ballot by the state Supreme Court, which concluded the former president championed an insurrection in violation of the Constitution.
“I think that’s just playing into the left,” Mr. DeSantis told Newsmax’s “Newsline” Wednesday. “I’ve qualified for all the ballots. I’m competing in all the states, and I’m going to accumulate the delegates necessary. That’s the whole name of the game in this situation.”
• Mallory Wilson contributed to this story.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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