State Lawmakers Nationwide Look to Shift Power Away from D.C.

sunshine state news ^ | December 11, 2014 | KATHRYN WATSON WATCHDOG.ORG

[dontreadthis]

A movement is afoot from state lawmakers who believe the federal government has amassed far too much power, to the detriment of state authority and autonomy.

They’re embarking on a massive undertaking -- crafting a set of guidelines for considering amendments to the U.S. Constitution in order to shift more power back to the states.

Just blocks from the White House, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., state lawmakers representing different political stripes and 28 states from Alaska to Florida this week brainstormed suggestions for going about an Article V convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Their specific causes are many, ranging from campaign finance reform after the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, to EPA regulation overreach, to the need for a balanced federal budget amendment. Those differences will need refining eventually. Still, lawmakers rallied around one thing at a gathering of the Assembly of State Legislatures in Washington, D.C. -- the need to reign in Washington.

“I want to make sure that my grandchildren have a vibrant Constitution that protects their freedom,” said Scott Lingamfelter, a Republican delegate from Virginia who is pushing a resolution for a convention in that state.

[dontreadthis]

Article V ping!

[yldstrk]

Good idea

[Sacajaweau]

Then you better learn to be a little more self sufficient. Fed workers in the state...get rid of them.

The destructive unions....get rid of them.

Daycare...get rid of it.

Head Start...get rid of it.

Board of Regents (NYS)....get rid of it.

EPA....get rid of it.

[Crazieman]

[skinkinthegrass]

Art. V & 10th. Adm't./repeal 16th. & 17th. Adm't BUMP!
"crater" the IR$ & N$A..limit fed. outlays to 15% GDP..15% flat tax or 18% sales (no deductions)

[eyeamok]

All that is needed is to Repeal the 16th and 17th Amendments

[Savage Beast]

They’ll have a fight on their hands. People don’t give up power easily. The corrupt do not give up power at all. And Washington is the greatest concentration of power and corruption in history.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“They’re embarking on a massive undertaking — crafting a set of guidelines for considering amendments to the U.S. Constitution in order to shift more power back to the states”

Just invoke the 10th amendment and save themselves the aggravation of trying to pass new ammendments.

[Jacquerie]

Article V ping!

I just got off the phone with the Laura Ingraham show, where I made a quick case for Article V and re-federalization of Washington. She was very receptive.

(self pat on back)

[Jacquerie]

It isn't in the aggregate political interest of congressmen or senators to invoke the 10th. If it was, they would have been doing so these past 101 years.

Scotus has occasionally run interference for the states, but many judges regard that as judicial activism.

[servantboy777]

I could be mistaken...often am, but is it not up to the votes from our congressional elect to force an article V?

[Repeal The 17th]

Good on ya’.
Give yourself a pat for me.

[yldstrk]

Congrats.

[Da Bilge Troll]

"Washington is the greatest concentration of power and corruption in history"

That's the point - this bypasses Washington.

[VOR78]

Pretty sure it only requires the state legislatures. You need two thirds of them to call a constitutional convention and three quarters of them to ratify new amendments.

[Da Bilge Troll]

"I just got off the phone with the Laura Ingraham show"

Awesome!

[central_va]

28th Amendment:

Section 1. The sixteenth and the seventeenth articles of amendment to the Constitution of the United States are hereby repealed.

[Da Bilge Troll]

"is it not up to the votes from our congressional elect to force an article V?"

Article V says Congress "shall call" a convention. It is not optional.

[Jacquerie]

Nope. The state convention half of Article V is almost entirely extra-congressional. Once thirty-four states have applied (34 have), congress is required to call a convention.

[Jacquerie]

Works for me. The 16th is without doubt the evil sibling of the wicked 17th.