Delegates Begin Planning for Changes to U.S. Constitution [Mt. Vernon Assembly : See Article V]

Northwest Indiana Times ^ | June 12th, 2014 | Dan Carden

[Jacquerie]

INDIANAPOLIS | Representatives and senators from 29 states met Thursday in the Indiana Statehouse to begin planning for the first state-led revisions to the U.S. Constitution since the nation's fundamental governing document was enacted in 1789.

The significance of the work undertaken by The Mount Vernon Assembly to prepare for a future Convention of the States was not lost on the 94 official and participating delegates, mostly Republicans, who filled the House chamber.

"Nothing like this has occurred in over two centuries, though certainly the founders of this nation assumed it would have happened long ago," said Indiana Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, an organizer of the meeting.

However, because an Article V convention never has been called, there are no clear procedures on how it would begin, what rules the convention would follow or whether it could be limited in scope.

The Mount Vernon Assembly, which organized last December at George Washington's Virginia estate and is planning to change its name to the Assembly of State Legislatures, has taken it upon itself to start answering those questions to ensure a future Convention of the States gets off on the right foot.

In the afternoon, delegates organized into four committees to begin tackling detailed planning questions for a Convention of the States, including how many delegates each state should have, whether states must send Congress an identical request and whether past state calls for Article V conventions, such as those submitted by Indiana in 1861 and 1979, are still valid.

State Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte, was appointed co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He will help shape answers to those questions and others ahead of the assembly's December meeting, where its proposed rules for a Convention of the States will be approved.

[Jacquerie]

only end up handing over more control . . .

I say Obama has assumed despotic powers. Do you agree?

He has established executive branch precedents that no election alone can reverse. These despotic powers will be in the hip pocket of all future presidents unless the people via their states in an amendment convention do something about it.

[Mad Dawgg]

The fix is easy just change the First Amendment to “Congress shall make no LAW.” and make it retroactive to 1789...

[familyop]

"It's the nature of man to seek power, and those who legislate in the states are no different from those in DC."

That's very true. Allowing them the sole discretion of electing senators would be wrong. The 17th Amendment stays.

Members of the state legislatures lean further to toward big government than most of the rest of us with their property tax hikes without causes, impact fees, regulations against private property rights and industry, zoning ordinances against productive and honorable private activities (like new, small manufacturing shops),...

"At the Assembly of States meeting in Indianapolis, legislators are reminded that they do not have to put up with an abusive, all powerful national government. They can retrieve the freedom securing power of our original constitutional design."

They are in bed with the legislators and their favored constituents in DC. They would be more so, if they further controlled the Senate. They receive much of their funding for political activities from their mates in DC.

We don't need a house of lords. Governments like that of the U.K. are more socialist and corrupted by the effete than our own.

We'll cancel vacations (debt/revenues, fuel, etc.), build tiny houses (very low property taxes), become more independent with home energy (debt/revenues), work more for ourselves (debt/revenues), be more helpful to our better neighbors (true conservatives--not "as seen on TV") and more definitively denounce corruption, when the time is right.

As political bosses at all levels of plotting and scheming see, those measures are more powerful than votes. And as more decent Americans are made examples of (illegally persecuted and robbed, mostly at local levels), the temperature will be increased.

[John Valentine]

Pretty much works for me, but I worry about the detail. On the other hand it might be necessary to nail down every corner of the tent.

There is no good faith possible when dealing with statists.

[Repeal The 17th]

“... I worry about the detail ...”
-
Yes, there is a struggle for a balance between general vs. detail.

[familyop]

"Spare me your gibberish and silly insults."

Reminiscent of attitudes of planning office clerks.

"From the beginning in 1776, the Framing generation experienced overly democratic state governments . The states relied on public virtue more than governmental structure to secure rights. Bad idea.

It didn't work well at all. For one, property was not secure. Personally moral men passed immoral laws that favored debtors and screwed creditors."

Oh, those evil framers, trying to prevent honorable justice like the following.

Pennsylvania mom of 7 dies in jail over unpaid school-related fines
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3167306/posts

See the rate of increase in political warming and economic cooling. There's not enough time for the bureaucratic effort to change our Constitution. Maybe public servants should assume proper servant postures, before their offices are closed for lack of funds.

[TEXOKIE]

“... Don’t do this! ...”
-
“What are you afraid of?”

My initial response to this effort is to be in favor of it. However in some of Matt Bracken’s books, he has seemed to indicate some strong reservations to such an effort. I am carefully considering the fact that someone of his standing and unquestioned patriotism has strong reservations.

I am at this point declaring myself willing to be convinced - yay or nay.

[Da Bilge Troll]

You need to read this book: The Liberty Amendments by Mark R. Levin.

[itssme]

Your’re right, I really have been meaning to get that book. No transportation available to me, but I’ve ordered it from my local library, who deliver books to members via their mobile library on wheels bus. Whatever it takes to get Mark’s books!

[Da Bilge Troll]

"I really have been meaning to get that book."

Good! When you read it, you will find that Mark Levin began this movement with that book. The legislators who attended the first conference at Mt. Vernon all signed a copy of The Liberty Amendments and presented it to Mark!

[Da Bilge Troll]

By the way, Ted Cruz has also endorsed the Convention of States movement.

[itssme]

Thanks for refreshing my memory. I listen to Mark every night..I now know what you’re referring to. Definitely a Oops! moment on my part.

[itssme]

Yes, I know about Ted’s endorsement and his conversations with Mark Levin on the subject. Two Conservative men, so admirable and accomplished, Ted Cruz and Mark Levin. Thank God we have both of them fighting for US and this country.