Arkansas becomes state #13 to pass the Convention of States resolution

conventionofstates.com ^ | February 13, 2019 | Kyle Key

[Nateman]

Little Rock, AR, February 14, 2019 – Convention of States Action, the largest Article V grassroots organization in the country, is pleased to announce that today Arkansas became the 13th state to call for an Article V convention to propose constitutional amendments that impose fiscal restraints on Washington, limit its power and jurisdiction, and set term limits for federal officials.

“We are very excited that Arkansas has become the 13th state to pass the Convention of States resolution,” said Mark Meckler, President of Convention of States Action. “This success is the result of incredible grassroots effort in conjunction with great legislative champions. It’s a great way to start the year!”

“Almost seventy percent of the people of Arkansas favor this Article V convention,” said Sen. Gary Stubblefield, referring to a study conducted by the Trafalgar Group. “This isn’t a Democrat issue or a Republican issue. It’s an American issue.”

“We are fortunate to vote for a resolution that provides a solution as big as the problem,” said Rep. Austin McCollum, a primary sponsor along with Sen. Stubblefield. In addition, the efforts of House Majority Leader Rep. Marcus Richmond were invaluable to final passage.

“The wonderful people of Arkansas recognize the need to correct the direction in Washington, and their legislators have responded,” said former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, a COSA Senior Advisor.

Convention of States Arkansas volunteers called, emailed, visited, and sent hundreds of handwritten letters to legislators urging them to pass the resolution.

“The liberty bell rings loud in Arkansas,” said Bud Cornwell, State Director for Convention of States Arkansas. “The passion in Arkansas exceeded any partisan divide. The oath I took as a Marine to protect and defend the Constitution 20 years ago came true today passing the Convention of States legislation.”

“Convention of States volunteers and Arkansas legislators stood their ground today to show we are the ones who decide,” said Randy Alexander, Legislative Liaison for Convention of States Arkansas.

“Arkansas exemplifies self governance," said Brandon Benson, Regional Director for COSA. "They took charge of this process in getting SJR3 passed from step one clear to completion. While the vote on Convention of States is complete, the Arkansas team understands the work is just getting started.

"Now they will continue the mission of fighting for limited government. I was amazed after the vote at the number of supporters who were asking what more they could do! That’s the spirit of this movement in action. We don’t stop.”

About Convention of States Action Convention of States Action is currently organized in all 50 states, including over three million volunteers, supporters and advocates committed to stopping the federal government’s abuse of power. Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Arizona, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana have passed our Article V resolution since the project’s founding in 2013. For more information visit www.ConventionofStates.com.

[Nateman]

For something so important there is not much coverage of this. As it gets closer to the 34 state threshold of course the coverage will increase. For the FUD crowd that number does not actually have to be reached. The closer it gets the better the counter offer put forth by Congress is going to become.

[Publius]

Now there are 13: AL, AK, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IN, LA, MO, ND, OK, TN, TX.

For a Convention of the States dedicated to Georgia’s application language, which would re-balance citizens’ rights versus federal power and state power, the count is 13 down, 21 to go.

For a Convention of the States dedicated to a balanced budget amendment only, the count is 30 down, 4 to go.

[DIRTYSECRET]

It’ll end up like the O.J. trial.

[Repeal The 17th]

13 down; 21 to go.
Let’s roll.

[C210N]

[Nateman]

I read somewhere that Arkansas State Senator Gary Stubblefield made a very good and impassioned speech in favor of the resolution. I have not heard the speech but perhaps someone can find it and post a link.

[Wneighbor]

Woo Hoooo!!!

13 of 34! Still, we really need several more states to pass COS resolutions this session. I will celebrate every one :) Since Texas passed in ‘17 we’ve been helping our kids in Maine and a granddughter in Oregon (all conservative) to push in their states.

Here in Texas we’ve used the grassroots COS team of several hundred people to carry on the battle in our legislature for property tax relief and Constitutional Carry. I was in Austin last week and this term we have a great bill about to pass for that property tax relief. A couple hundred or so from our COS team testified before the Senate committee. We’ve used the tools and contacts we gained from passing our COS resolution to continue to bring legislative visibility back to the voters.

[Nateman]

As a minor note of trivia, 4 states start with the letter “A” and now every single one of them has signed on. That's a very interesting start indeed!

[murron]

I’m confused. Is this the same thing as the Constitutional convention that Ross Perot was pushing in 1992 and if it’s not what’s the difference?

[foreverfree]

Bump

[Publius]

Here is the pedantic boilerplate that I append to these threads.

***

The amendatory process under Article V consists of three steps: Proposal, Disposal, and Ratification.

Proposal:

There are two ways to propose an amendment to the Constitution.

• The Congressional Method requires the House and Senate to pass an amendment by a two thirds majority.
• The Amendments Convention Method requires the legislatures of two thirds of the states to apply to Congress to call a Convention for Proposing Amendments. Once the two thirds threshold is reached, Congress is required to set a time and place for the convention.

Article V gives Congress and an Amendments Convention exactly the same power to propose amendments, no more and no less.

Disposal:

Once Congress, or an Amendments Convention, proposes amendments, Congress must decide whether the states will ratify by the:

• State Legislature Method, or the
• State Ratifying Convention Method.

The State Ratifying Convention Method has only been used twice: once to ratify the Constitution, and once to ratify the 21st Amendment repealing Prohibition.

Ratification:

Depending upon which ratification method is chosen by Congress, either the state legislatures vote up-or-down on the proposed amendment, or the voters elect a state ratifying convention to vote up-or-down. If three fourths of the states vote to ratify, the amendment becomes part of the Constitution.

Forbidden Subjects:

Article V contains two explicitly forbidden subjects and one implicitly forbidden subject.

Explicitly forbidden:

• No amendment may be added to the Constitution concerning slavery or capitation taxes until 1808. We’re well past that deadline.
• No amendment may be added to the Constitution to change the principle of equal representation in the Senate unless every state deprived of that right approves. If California wants five senators, every state must have five senators. To permit violation of this principle, every state would have to ratify the amendment, not just three fourths.

Implicitly forbidden:

• The Constitution of 1787 may not be abrogated and replaced with a new document. Article V only authorizes “a convention for proposing amendments to this Constitution;” therefore, the Constitution of 1787 is locked in place forever. Congress and an Amendments Convention have exactly the same Proposal power; therefore, neither Congress nor an Amendments Convention can start over. Both bodies can only propose amendments.

Reference works:

Proposing Constitutional Amendments by a Convention of the States: A Handbook for State Lawmakers

State Initiation of Constitutional Amendments: A Guide for Lawyers and Legislative Drafters

[Dr. Sivana]

My fear is that the left will be able to use this to do away with the Electoral College. I see too much potential downside.

[Nateman]

...Constitutional convention that Ross Perot was pushing in 1992 ...

I had no idea Perot was pushing that . I went to Google to hunt something down but failed to find any articles on this.

[Repeal 16-17]

The federal government is in desperate need of reform. The only peaceful and realistic way of achieving reform is via an Article V Convention.

For those worrying about a "runaway convention," the Convention could only propose amendments. Just like with amendment proposed by Congress, three-fourths of the States would have to ratify a proposal for it to become part of the Constitution.

[Publius]

Do you honestly think that 38 states (three fourths) would ratify an amendment abolishing the Electoral college -- or repeal the First or Second Amendment?

If only 13 states say "no" at ratification time to an amendment proposal, that proposed amendment is dead.

[Fungi]

Our founders were genius. The constitution, as one pundit has said: “ was almost perfect.”

[Nateman]

My fear is that the left will be able...

It's nothing more than what Congress has had the power to do for more than 2 centuries. It's obviously harder to get a COS done since even an impending Civil War was insufficient to get a COS called despite President Lincoln and Buchanan pushing for one. No matter what is proposed 3/4's of the states have to agree to any amendment.That is such a big hurtle it's much more likely that good amendments will not adapted.

By the way RATs are very scared of this. A stinking Republican leader prevented its passage in Nevada and after the RATs seized power they killed the application dead.

[Hostage]

And there are many more actively pushing forward!

Critical mass building!

[TomGuy]

Just remember that states have political parties with deep interests and influence, and states have ‘deep states’ too. That is where the representatives to an Article Convention will come from, as the representatives will be appointed by the states.

This could be a Pandora’s Box liberals could only dream of.

[Nateman]

This could be a Pandora’s Box liberals could only dream of

If it is a dream for RATS it's apparently a nightmare for them. RAT controlled states Nevada, New Mexico, Maryland and Delaware have rescinded all official requests for a constitutional convention.