United States Congress; application to call a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution. (SJ252)

Introduced By

Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Mount Solon)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate

Description

United States Congress; application to call a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to provide for a balanced budget requirement. Initiates the process to call a convention to amend the United States Constitution to add a balanced budget amendment to promote fiscal integrity at the federal level. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/12/2015Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15100945D
01/12/2015Referred to Committee on Rules
01/27/2015Reported from Rules with substitute (9-Y 2-N 1-A) (see vote tally)
01/27/2015Committee substitute printed 15104470D-S1
01/29/2015Reading waived (39-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/30/2015Read second time
01/30/2015Reading of substitute waived
01/30/2015Committee substitute agreed to 15104470D-S1
01/30/2015Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SJ252S1
02/02/2015Passed by for the day
02/03/2015Passed by for the day
02/04/2015Passed by for the day
02/05/2015Passed by for the day
02/06/2015Motion to recommit to committee agreed to
02/06/2015Recommitted to Rules
02/11/2015Left in Rules

Comments

George Washington LIVE! writes:

In the Farewell Address, Washington wrote:

“...that the free Constitution, which is the work of your hands,
may be sacredly maintained;
that its administration in every department
may be stamped with wisdom and virtue;
that, in fine, the happiness of the people of these States,
under the auspices of liberty,
may be made complete by so careful a preservation
and so prudent a use of this blessing
as will acquire to them the glory of recommending it
to the applause, the affection, and adoption of every nation
which is yet a stranger to it.
Here, perhaps, I ought to stop.”

Yet Washington does not stop, thank God.

Washington continues…

"Towards the preservation of your government,
and the permanency of your present happy state,
it is requisite, not only that you steadily discountenance
irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority,
but also that you resist with care
the spirit of innovation upon its principles,
however specious the pretexts.
One method of assault may be to effect,
in the forms of the Constitution,
alterations which will impair the energy of the system,
and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown."

The Article V Convention of States, in the current environment of over 50 years of educational deficiency as to the principles of this Constitution for the United States of America, is highly likely to create "innovations" and "alterations" "which will impair the energy of the system, and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown."

James Renwick Manship writes:

A modern “Parable” relating to Healing our "American Body Politic" that is Sick...

Many commentators and Citizens alike are concerned that our American political system, our "American Body Politic" is sick.
Debate surrounds in what way should We the People restore health to our American Body Politic.

One group of people suggest "Heart Surgery” - of that group most think all is needed is Heart Bypass Surgery. Others think Heart Transplant.

The Heart Bypass is akin to an Amendment to this Constitution, such as a “Balanced Budget Amendment”.

There are political movements in America and beyond who want to remove the “heart” of our current American Body Politic, this Constitution.

Those political movements have other “hearts”, other “constitutions” already drafted, ready to transplant into our American Body Politic.

The Heart Transplant is akin to when the Articles of Confederation were totally replaced by “this Constitution for the United States of America”.

Yet will a modern “Heart Transplant Team” have as skilled a man as George Washington leading the Convention, the “surgical team”.

At the Constitutional Convention, of the 55 men who served there, as many as 38 had served under the command of George Washington.

So then We the People had a skilled and experienced “surgical team”.

Who in America will be the “Lead Surgeon” today? Who else will be on the “Surgical Team”?

Will they respect George Washington? Or the work of George Washington and the other Founding Fathers?

Another Wise Way to health when one has “Heart Problems” is Diet and Exercise. Diet and Exercise is somewhat like “Repentance”.

The Bible talks of “Fasts” that are Diets. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness.

With a Diet our American Body Politic will lose excess weight, so to put less burden on our Heart, part of the Healing Process.
Excess weight is a result of excess spending, and elected servants of legislatures at the Federal and the State level are the proper “Exercise Coaches”.

Exercise of our American Body Politic will restore proper function to the various “appendages”, agencies and institutions of our government.

One of those “appendages” that has grown flabby is the Grand Jury, whose duty includes to investigate reports of government fraud, waste and abuse, and indict so to remove those sicknesses from the American Body Politic, by “Local Surgery” rather than “Heart Surgery”.

While the process of Diet and Exercise may take somewhat longer to restore Health, the risks from Heart Surgery are avoided, and a stronger American Body Politic will result from the gradual process of Healing by Diet and Exercise.

The Article V Constitution Convention, or “Con Con”, or Convention of States, is akin to a Heart Surgery Team.
Once the American Body Politic is prone on the table unable to move…

...will the Surgical Team do Heart Bypass Surgery (an Amendment or two) or Heart Transplant Surgery (replace "this Constitution")?

Many say that “this Constitution for the United States of America” was the “Miracle in Philadelphia”, a Gift of God.

Is it wise to vote to cut up a Miracle?

James Renwick Manship writes:

Senator Hanger is a fine man, but I believe has not "played the chess game" of many moves into the future, and the potential for "Check Mate" by the forces of evil if this gambit of the Article V Convention of States "move" is taken now.

John K Rooney writes:

Oppose all bills related to an Article V Convention to amend the US Constitution! These several bills coming before the House of Delegates are being deceitfully promoted, claiming certainty that that such a convention will be limited. They fail to remind audiences that the last such convention occurred in 1787 and resulted in the scrapping of the entire Articles of Confederation for the new Constitution. At that event, delegates were charged with the task of amending the Articles and all 13 states were required to approve the changes. The convention changed the ratification rules requiring only nine states. Relying on precedent, one should assume an Article V convention will most likely be a runaway event like the previous one, resulting in a dramatically changed document.

Moreover, promoters are stating that the Convention of the States concept is far different from an Article V Convention, which is an outright lie. If it was different, it would have no power. It is exactly the same as an Article V convention to promote amendments, just a re-branded version with fresh advertising. This is not the time to use the "nuclear option." While I'm not particularly opposed to the purposed amendments, such as a balanced budget, they still do not address the real problem, which is fascist control of our economy by international banks through the Federal Reserve System. The Fed currently is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and it facilitates the ever expanding debt and ever increasing size of government. It helps fund collectivism, the welfare state, illegal wars and the police state with unlimited fiat currency, currently illegal under the Constitution.

When someone tries to sell you a pack of lies, it is a red flag, back out! I fear an Article V convention will be disastrous to this country. The problem, outside of the 16th -17 Amendments, is not our current Constitution. The document is good, we as a people just don't want to abide by it or we are too apathetic to defend it. How can we be confident that our leaders will obey a new constitution if they trample over the one we have?

Past promoters of a Constitutional convention have desired to remove the very checks and balances that limit government. Many of these entities such as the Ford Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation still seek to accelerate new world order socialism by dramatically altering or replacing our Constitution. They are being joined by others such as Code Pink, Occupy, Soros, Sierra Club and many other progressive organizations. While I may be in favor of eliminating corporate person-hood, a Con con is not the way to do it! Those favoring peace are joining with those who favor war, such as neocon cheerleader Mark Levin on the Republican side. Levin, a Zionist radio talker, has captivated the attention of millions of "conservatives" with his screechy voice and cries of "A-hole" to those who disagree with him. "You shall know them by their fruits." Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, Jesus said, referring to hypocrisy. As Levin champions reigning in government through a Convention of the States, his totalitarian side leaks out from his broadcast. He is in favor of military intervention (wars of aggression-murder) if it means "securing America." He has no problem with torture of various styles, even mocks those who criticize it. George Washington, fearing God, condemned the use of torture. Levin calls those who oppose the unconstitutional Federal Reserve cartel a bunch of crazy kooks. It's no wonder he wants to change the Constitution. More on this wolf later.

Don't listen to deceptive propagandists selling the CON. It will not be limited. If you value the 1st Amendment, 2nd Amendment, 4th Amendment or 10th Amendment or protection of due process or habeas corpus, decide to defend the Constitution. If enough of us get involved, we can get proper amendments safely passed through Congress. The states have already ratified 27 of them. Go to the General Assembly web site and call ALL the delegates and senators and tell them to oppose all bills related to an Article V Convention. Now is the time. Thank you.

John K Rooney
Tri-Cities Liberty Alliance
Petersburg

Dana Mason writes:

Vote no to all Convention of States bills remaining. If the state legislators continue to allow federal over-reach by collusion and acceptance of Washington's dollars, then the growth will never cease. Your legislative body, more so than the Constitution, holds the key to reining in much of this tyranny. With nothing but questionable "legal treatise," faulty argumentation, threats and smear campaigns, the organizers of the Convention of States are desperately trying to ramrod this through the General Assembly, demonstrating the very objection as a frenetic and chaotic body ensuing from a convention. The level of disagreement over securing unalienable liberty exists against a backdrop of ignorance, which should precisely convince all that seeking an Article V is the furthest thing from a viable option. As the pivotal body between localities and Washington, you must prevail as arbitors of liberty and limited government. Vote no to these resolutions.

Respectfully,

Dana Mason
Staunton

Ed Long writes:

I oppose this bill. As far as I know Senator Hanger, BTW my Senator, has not met with and discussed this bills with anyone in Senate District 24.

To see my thoughts go the the following link: https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2015/hj497/

I find it amazing that Democrats are making better sense. To quote: “Every nut job in America would be at that convention,” said Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax). “It would not be any Jeffersons or Madisons.” See that statement at the following link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/some-va-republicans-want-to-amend-us-constitution-but-a-party-splits-in-the-way/2015/02/03/06a28c86-abcb-11e4-9c91-e9d2f9fde644_story.html

Albeit Delegates Sickles comments are an explicit case for why a Run-Away Convention will precipitate from a Con Con: “I’m against it, but if we have one, I want to be a delegate,” said Del. Mark D. Sickles (D-Fairfax). “There’s a lot of problems with this Constitution. I’ll just get up to this convention and start whacking away.”

Folks, except for individuals such as Senator Black the Republicans seem to have been struck by "The Crazies." Why they feel compelled to drink the Kool-Aid of the Lobbyists who want a Con Con I do not understand.

marsha maines writes:

Unless all members of the Bar are registered with the bar as INACTIVE STATUS, they cannot be lawfully serving in the Legislative Branch of government at all - and never could.

Any and all legislation created by members of the bar while in "active" status with the Bar - have committed a violation of separation of powers - and any such legislation ever passed, is voidable for conflict of interest.

ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE BAR MUST RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ARE NOT ELIGIBLE DELEGATES FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.