CONVENTION OF STATES UPDATE: The Latest from West Virginia

By Mike Holz

“The second clause of Article V – empowering the states – is necessary, because left to Congress, no amendments of the proper kind would ever be obtained by the people, if the Government should become oppressive.”

Almost a year ago, we published a column that pointed out how oppressive our federal government has become, and the need to rescue it from the career politicians on both sides of the aisle who are more interested in their political futures than in America’s future. Article V of the U.S. Constitution, also known as The Convention of States, is the vehicle by which the states can take control of our out-of-control government. In a nutshell, Article V gives the individual states the power to propose and enact Constitutional amendments independent of Congress.

To convene a Convention of States, two-thirds of the fifty states’ legislatures, or 34 states, would need to initiate a convention to propose specific Constitutional amendments. If three-fourths of the states, or 38 states, ratified these amendments, the amendments would become law and part of the U.S. Constitution. This is strictly a state legislature initiative; state governors have no role in the process and cannot stop it. Currently, 40 states are in the process of initiating an Article V convention to propose three specific amendments. One would impose fiscal restraint on the federal government through a balanced budget amendment, the second would limit the government’s power and jurisdiction, and the third would impose term limits on Congress.

Should these amendments become ratified, they become law. Congress can’t change or amend (add pork to) them, the president can’t veto them; the Supreme Court can’t overturn them.

Last February, Delegate John Overington sponsored a resolution calling on West Virginia to participate in the Convention of States movement. At the time, he had 37 bi-partisan co-sponsors. This year, he hopes to have 64 sponsors when he re-introduces it. State Senator Robert Karnes will be introducing it in the Senate. They’ll both need our help in this effort.

Lets contact all our representatives, both Democrat and Republican, and let them know where we stand.

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