Posted on 12/09/2013 1:01:55 PM PST by Da Bilge Troll
Yesterday, approximately 100 state legislators from over 30 states met at George Washington's home in Mount Vernon, VA. The meeting's purpose was to begin drafting the procedural rules for a Convention of States. I was not present at the gathering (only state legislators were allowed to attend), but earlier in the week I had a face to face conversation with the leadership of the Mount Vernon Assembly.
We are beginning to reach critical mass in our efforts to use Article V of the Constitution to rein in the power of the federal government. The Mount Vernon Assembly is one of the major steps in that effort.
While the work of this group of legislators cannot be binding until actually adopted by a Convention of States, it will be critical to have this work done in advance and to have a majority of the states endorse it in advance. This will ensure the Convention itself can avoid prolonged disputes on the rules and can get right to work on the substance of drafting amendments that limit the power of Washington, D.C.
But there is another, somewhat unfortunate piece of evidence that shows this project is reaching critical mass. Conservative critics of this idea have recently increased both the loudness and shrillness of their long-standing claims that this approach is a dangerous threat to our country through a runaway "Con-Con."
Here is why their arguments are doomed to fail: 1. They are based on faulty history. The original Constitution was not adopted as the result of a runaway convention. Their entire argument is premised on this fallacy. 2. They have to convince state legislators that we can't trust state legislators.
You see, state legislators control the Article V process from beginning to end. The "Con-Con" argument requires state legislators to believe that we should be afraid of state legislators who might abuse their power.
But what's the alternative? These fear-based arguments leave us in the utterly precarious position of trusting Washington, D.C., to right itself.
No one should trust Washington, D.C., more than they trust state legislators. But, at the end of the day, the audience that matters most is state legislators. State legislators certainly trust themselves more than they trust Congress and the rest of the crowd in D.C.
The fear-based arguments are being overcome by the developing consensus of conservative leadership. Mark Levin, Glenn Beck, David Barton, and I all stand shoulder to shoulder to say that we can trust the Founders’ own solution. And that solution is found in Article V--we need to call a Convention of States.
Join us. Make history. Save liberty.
Nobody from New York, not much of a surprise. Only one from Texas?
I’ve never met him...I would make it a point in the future to do so in the days coming up...
As much as I am cautious about this effort to implement an Art. 5 procedure...
The folks in the middle of all this planning are folks I want to talk to, before I settle into something like this or reject it...
I have legitimate reservations about the whole idea, regardless of how broke the situation is now...We still have mechanisms to exercise, if we could only keep the average voter engaged and ready to pull the lever when the times come every two years...
When we totally lose that avenue, then implementing this and other means of grievances are on the table...
Thats just been my opinion for a very long time...
Just took a look at his website, and have made a call into a couple of state rep friends of mine, to see what they think of this guy...
So far, on paper, I like him...Pro-life and gun...Those are two big issues with me...The rest is gravy, but important all the same...
I heard that Mike Moon attended. Don't know if he was the only one or not.
The Republicans are in control (both houses) of 23 state legislatures and are in partial control (one house) of several more.
Ratification requires 3/4ths, so any 13 states can block an amendment.
I believe this is the most likely.
2. No pay raised for Congress unless approved by the people during an election year.
Actually, Congress has been restricted by the 27th Amendment, which was one of the original 12 amendments proposed in 1789 and was finally ratified in 1992:
AMENDMENT XXVII
Originally proposed Sept. 25, 1789. Ratified May 7, 1992.No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of representatives shall have intervened.
3. All laws passed by Congress MUST apply to Congress with no special treatment or subsidies. and,
Perhaps, but too many loopholes I think.
4. Return to selecting Senators through state legislatures.
Repeal of the 17th is also on most "wish lists" I have seen.
Not sure a balanced budget amendment is such a good idea. It only gives Dem majorities the ammo they need to justify tax increases to pay for their increased spending.
Unless the taxing authority is also restricted! See Mark Levin's The Liberty Amendments
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