Ohio Republicans calling for Federal Constitution Convention

[Pete]

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it.- Hosea 8:7

Members of the Republican caucus in the Ohio Legislature have decided the time is right for a Constitutional Convention (Con Con). A new resolution House Joint Resolution (HJR) 8 has just been introduced which petitions the US Congress for the calling of a Con Con. In the resolution the purpose is ostensibly to bring before Congress a balanced budget amendment to the US Constitution. Indeed, the resolution is crafted with a limitation on Con Con members which only permits them to discuss a balanced budget amendment and forbids any other discussion. On its face it appears to be a noble effort.

Unfortunately, the resolution displays a gross ignorance of constitutional history, reveals a dangerous naivete regarding how a Con Con would be constituted and reveals a political tin ear regarding the current political and social thought in the United States.

Historically, the original Constitutional Convention in 1787 was called specifically to amend the Articles of Confederation, not to write a new constitution. In fact, many states were so fearful of a complete restructuring of government with a shift of power from the states to a central government that they passed resolutions requiring their delegates to discuss amendments to the Articles ONLY and specifically forbade them to discuss core changes to the Articles or to re-draft them. It is interesting to note that the first act of the Constitutional Convention was to agree to act in complete secret. The second act was to debate the restrictions from state governments regarding discussion of re-drafting the Articles and to declare the Articles of Confederation as null and void. The convention agreed in one fell swoop to ignore state restrictions and to scrap the Articles. So much for state legislative restrictions on Con Con delegates.

Whole article at http://www.principledpolicy.com/?p=501:

Nothing like going for a haircut at the risk of receiving a sex change. :eek::(:mad:

This thing is scheduled for hearings and a vote WEDNESDAY. See the blog for recommended action.

[FrankRep]

The Ohio Freedom Alliance is on this. Click the thread below for updates!

http://www.ohiofreedom.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2175

[Pete]

Excellent, thanks!

[FrankRep]

Excellent, thanks!

You should join us!

Ohio Freedom Alliance Forum
http://www.ohiofreedom.com/forum/

[FrankRep]

To get educated on the dangers of an Article V Constitutional Convention, please view this 4 part comprehensive video which was created to inform state legislators of the process and its pitfalls.


VIDEO: Beware Article V: Message to State Legislatures
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=za8_pdJ1dPo&feature=related
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flHJrcdfbBg&feature=related
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly1Lh3bqtYM&feature=related
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5jKAlgvCgg&feature=related


OUTLINE OF THE ISSUES

A. WHEN A CONVENTION IS CALLED:

Step 1: Legislatures apply to Congress to call a Convention

Step 2: Congress shall call a convention (determining where, how delegates are paid, how much, how many delegates and how they are chosen.) No guarantee of election of delegates by the people. Congress is given a free hand to determine the method of selecting delegates.

Step 3: for purpose of proposing Amendments. No provision in Article V limits the actual amendment(s) proposed or adopted by the Convention.


B. MAIN OBJECTIONS:

1. The Convention is not limited to the reason for its call.

The absence of an enforceable mechanism to control the content and outcome of a Convention puts our Constitution and Bill of Rights in jeopardy.

2. The States and the People have no power to elect/determine delegates.

The absence of any mechanism to ensure representative selection of delegates could put the convention within the hands of single issue groups whose self-interest may be contrary to our national well being.

[Pete]

You should join us!

Ohio Freedom Alliance Forum
http://www.ohiofreedom.com/forum/

I pimp Ohio Freedom Alliance on my CFL district page, just haven't had time to get involved. I will!

[FrankRep]

Progress Update:

A big THANK YOU to James and the Institute for Principled Policy for catching this legislation and acting fast.

Not only does it have popular support like James indicated, it is being quickly pushed through:

December 3, 2008 - introduced

Referred to House Judiciary Committee

December 10, 2008 - Committee Hearing (vote to send to House floor) 9:30am Room Rm 313

********************************
INTERESTING INFO

- I was just faxed a JBS flier from 1987 - the last time that Ohio battled a con-con (so I'm told) and guess who is listed as a co-sponsor? None other than current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and co-sponsor of HJR 8 - Louis W. Blessings, Jr.

- We defeated this bill in the Senate in 1987 (SJR 7) after it had passed the house. Almost 1/2 the house and 1/3 of the Senate endorsed it then. This is when it came down to 2 states (Ohio and Wisconsin)

PROGRESS

- Joe Healy, JBS Chapter Leader in Columbus spoke to Larry Flowers who is on the committee, but not a co-sponsor and didn't seem to be in favor of it, but was non-committal. Joe also spoke with Kevin Bacon who said he had was asked to co-sponsor the bill, but doesn't really understand the implications. I have emailed him the video.

- Robert has a call into him as he and Kevin went to law school together -- probably were in the same Con Law class (which would explain why it doesn't seem to be a big deal to him.)

- Tom Rice and Dr. Leithart will meet with Jim McGregor and hopefully Larry Flowers tomorrow.

- I am crafting a detailed email to the co-sponsors and comittee members containing the video links.

- We will be organizing a group to attend the committee hearing on Wednesday morning. For sure I will give testimony and as many people as possible should plan to attend and give testimony. The video posted earlier will educate you and then some on the issue.

Plan to join us or at the very least SLAM (http://www.ohiofreedom.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2179) the heck out of this issue! :)

More info to come...

[Aratus]

noonish bump! a con-con!:cool:

[Pete]

FrankRep, I joined Ohio Freedom Alliance today (delurking) and used the SLAM mailer. It is AWESOME. :cool::)

[Dequeant]

I wouldn't mind a new convention.......however

Our representatives have NEVER, in the history of our nation, been MORE CORRUPT than they are RIGHT NOW. I wouldn't trust them to write a mission statement for a BURGER KING, much less rewriting our constitution.

[Zippyjuan]

Even if this passes and is signed, you still need 33 more states to agree.

[FrankRep]

Even if this passes and is signed, you still need 33 more states to agree.

Several states have already approved of the idea of a Constitutional Convention.

[nexis]

32 other states already have taken that vote
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=83364

[Mesogen]

I think the Founding Fathers had in mind a convention every 20-30 years or so.

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

I think the Founding Fathers had in mind a convention every 20-30 years or so.

Maybe Hamilton thought that, but I doubt that the Anti-Federalists did. Not all The Founding Fathers thought the Constitution was such a great document.

[Pauls' Revere]

Nothing like going for a haircut at the risk of receiving a sex change. :eek::(:mad:

This thing is scheduled for hearings and a vote WEDNESDAY. See the blog for recommended action.


"There will be a line in the sand"-Ron Paul

:mad:

[FrankRep]

I think the Founding Fathers had in mind a convention every 20-30 years or so.

It's dangerous in this political climate to have a Constitutional Convention.

YES WE CAN!