Texas becoming the 11th state to call for
a (Convention of States) to limit federal power.
The 11 states would need to become 34 (to
call an Article V Convention).
How would this work?
Bill, the legislatures in at least 34 states
would have to pass a resolution calling for a Convention of States.
Those resolutions, called applications, would be delivered to Congress which would then
set a time and place for a states convention.
As proponents see it, the convention would
realign the balance of our system of government
as the Founders intended.
And they say the time is right for that.
We have $144 trillion in debt and unfunded liabilities.
For every taxpayer, that's $1 million.
But for the Millennials, it's $1.7 million
they're going to have to come up with over the next 50 years.
We're going down the path that every other
republic has done, in terms of fiscal irresponsibility
that will eventually cause our country to
unwind.
The time is also at hand, proponents say,
because Republicans control both chambers
in 32 different states.
They also hold 33 Governor offices.
34 are needed before a convention can take place.
Supporters believe our government is out of
whack in four distinct ways.
First, the debt crisis is saddling future
generations with unmanageable spending.
The regulatory crisis, which imposes too great
a burden on businesses and slows growth.
Lack of state sovereignty caused by the federal
government's mandates and state grants, and
the federal takeover of the decision-making process.
It affects centralized power in Washington
in a broad sense, that has replaced the system
of checks and balances required by the Constitution.
The Texas legislature became the most recent
to support a convention.
Governor Greg Abbott has suggested that a
Convention of States agenda would include
requiring Congress to balance its budget,
allow a 2/3 majority of states to override
Supreme Court decisions, restore balance of
power between federal and state governments,
and allowing a 2/3 majority of states to override
a federal law or regulation.
Eleven legislatures have voted for a Convention
of States, so supporters still have a really
long way to go before any of this would happen.
What do opponents say, Doug?
The whole idea of restoring states rights
is a loaded idea to progressives who fear
the meaning of states rights as it was interpreted
during the Civil War years and slavery era.
They also fear a runaway convention in which
the Constitution is upended.
Proponents say there are numerous safeguards
against that.
Any amendment to the Constitution would have
to be ratified by 38 states.
That's a high bar that would reflect the will
of the American people.
Thank you, Doug.
