Lawmakers meet in Utah to draw blueprint for constitutional convention

[Newsjock]

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

For decades, but increasingly in recent years, state lawmakers have been pushing for a convention to add amendments to the U.S. Constitution, only to run into opposition from groups warning that such a meeting could devolve into the wholesale rewriting of the nation's charter.

This week, an estimated 100 bipartisan legislators from 30 states will be in Utah attempting to put in rules and procedures they hope could act to keep such a constitutional convention on track, should legislatures from 34 states demand such a gathering.

"We're not focused on a specific amendment, so we're not advocating for a balanced budget or any other amendment that is being proposed out there in the world of the Internet, and there are many of them," said Utah Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, a member of the Assembly of State Legislatures' executive committee. "What we're focused on is establishing the rules and procedures under which a convention to propose amendments to the Constitution could be held."

Article V of the U.S. Constitution requires Congress to convene a constitutional convention to consider amending the document if 34 states adopt resolutions requesting an amendment. Currently, 27 states have passed resolutions seeking a convention to consider a balanced-budget amendment and Niederhauser said the 34-state threshold could be crossed within the next year, as other legislatures consider the amendment.

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/3161166-155/lawmakers-meet-in-utah-to-draw?fullpage=1

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Live streams of the meetings Wednesday, Thursday, Friday at this link:
http://www.assemblystatelegislatures.com/utah-meeting.html

[MADem]

1. Where's the frigging Equal Rights Amendment? That's what I want to see.

Nothing wrong with rolling a LITTLE debt--not Bush-like debt, not GOP "Max out the credit card" debt (that the Dems always pay down), but just a little, if needs must.

But it's never right to treat citizens in unequal fashion. Where is our ERA?

[icymist]

2. Well, they say it's for a balanced budget amendment...

but, wouldn't a Constitutional convention open the door for all kinds of crazy crap from Republicans? Marriage? Rights? Christian nation?

[loyalsister]

3. Exactly

Add term limits to that list.

[NYC Liberal]

7. Any amendments proposed by a convention have to be ratified

by 3/4 of state legislatures. A convention just takes the place of Congress in proposing the amendment.

[Reter]

20. True, but Republicans control 3/4 of state legislatures

A ConCon also bypasses Congress, and can write up an entirely new Constitution.

[Demeter]

10. It could open the door for us, too

There are many things that ought to be there, like the ERA and proper prosecution of environmental crimes, that aren't.

[n2doc]

11. Given the dominance of Repubs in State Legislatures and Congress,

Plus the billions that would be spent by the Koch's and their fellow billionaires, I think expecting any sort of progressive outcome from a CC is a fantasy.

[Demeter]

13. The times, they are a changing

let them try to steamroll, and watch what happens.

[n2doc]

12. They can balance the budget anytime they like

They are just too chicken to do so, knowing that either they would have to cut the bloated military budget and raise taxes, or starve granny and steal the remaining Social Security money. No middle ground.

And yes, given the repubs dominance of state legislatures, governorships, and Congress, one could expect a lot of t-bagger fantasies to come along. Bans on abortion, gay marriage , allowing prayer in schools and government, total 'freedom' to own any firearm, etc, etc. I don't know how many would get enough states to pass them but I don't want to find out either.

And you can guarantee that any budget amendment would have huge loopholes allowing for more military and ag subsidy spending.

[jalan48]

4. It would be interesting to know the names in this "bipartisan" group.

[Newsjock]

5. Same here

I've been trying to find a list, but even the event website doesn't seem to have a list. The lack of transparency obviously raises concerns.

[KingCharlemagne]

16. they should all be arrested and charged with sedition. - nt

[duhneece]

15. ALEC Star NM Rep Yvette Herrell...

I had seen in an article in our local newpaper about our Rep speaking on Constitutional Convention, so put those terms in google...got a lot of good 'connect the dots' about the two, so I have to agree that mostly this is a rightwing, tea party thang.

https://www.google.com/search?q=constitutional+convention+yvette+herrell&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

[freshwest]

18. Yes, that's the focus of Charles Koch. Enough red state leges to do what Reid and Sanders revealed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014833821#post10

They are accomplishing their goals.

[msongs]

6. repubs have used their 50 state strategy to control every more states unlike...dems who have

been snoozing the past 7 years thanks to disinterest by party leadership

[Samantha]

8. There is a reason there is no law for the Federal Government to have a balanced budget

It has to react in times of severe crises, wars -- any unexpected calamities that are not exactly predicable and thus budgeted. This is for the protection and assistance to each of our United States -- their individual well being and recovery from disasters, and collectively for our union it is the mucilage that holds us all together.

It always amazes me that people (even lawmakers who should know better) complain about our failure to stay within a budget. How does one budget for a 911?

Sam

[Proud Liberal Dem]

17. The same way we are all able to budget for catastrophic medical emergency visits/natural disaster

(i.e. we can't/don't)

In response to the original post, the idea of a Constitutional Convention lead by right-wing Tea Party legislators scares the s*** out of me and I hope that it NEVER happens- not for a constitutional "balanced budget" amendment or anything else their fevered imaginations might think of!

[trillion]

9. The only one I really want to see is the wording changed to "All people" are created equal instead

of "ALL men" are created equal - in the declaration of independence. Yes, we should correct it and file the current one in a museum. As far as these rightwing nutjobs, it will come out saying no gay marriage, no gun checks, no social funding for medicare, medicade, foodstamps etc. Infact I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get no taxes what so ever and try to dismantle the government. If Koch has part in the funding that will be exactly what this is about.

[marble falls]

14. Shouldn't that be more acurrately called a "redprint" for a Constitional Convention?

[Xithras]

19. I want a War Tax Amendment.

You want to end bullshit wars right fucking now? Support the passage of a War Tax Amendment. A properly drafted amendment would basically require three things.

1. Debt from military combat operations must be treated separately from all other budget items, and no war debt can be financed for a period longer than 20 years.

2. War debt cannot be paid out of the general treasury or be applied to the general national debt. Every time Congress authorizes new war debt, they MUST levy a new tax for it. They can decide for themselves who gets to pay it, but it MUST be a new tax dedicated SOLELY to the payment of that war debt, and the tax MUST be high enough to pay it off within the 20 year window.

3. All costs associated with the war, including veterans benefits, rebuilding costs, and ongoing occupation costs, must be included with the tax. Only DOMESTIC MILITARY OPERATIONS WITHIN THE 50 UNITED STATES can be included within the general military budget. Yes, that means we'll start paying special taxes to cover our standing armies in Korea, Japan, Germany, and every other corner of this planet.

You want to get Joe Average off his couch to protest against bullshit wars? Tell him that he'll be personally paying an extra $1500 a year for the next 20 years to pay for the next one. When you pile that on top of the several thousand a year he's ALREADY paying for the past few wars, and countless ongoing occupations, he's going to think twice before voting for any more hawks.