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Stopping a Dangerous Article V Convention

The only way to defend our values against this threat is if ordinary people like us step up to make a difference. Join the fight today.

Exposed: The Convention of States, a Campaign to Undermine 115 Years of Progressivism

This proposal calls for a convention with the broad purpose of limiting the powers of the federal government, imposing fiscal restraints on federal spending, and applying term limits for Members of Congress. Embedded within the legislation of this resolution is vague language lawmakers have intentionally placed – thus illustrating the very real possibility of a runaway convention. 

This particular campaign has major resources behind it, including at least $500,000 from the Mercer family (known for their support of President Trump and Republican candidates) and large contributions from the Koch-connected Donors Trust. 

The well funded campaign led by Tea Party Patriots co-founder Mark Meckler, Texas mega donor Tim Dunn, and former U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Jim DeMint (R-SC). 

Mark Meckler in particular has been very open about his ideas for what an Article V convention could do. He recently told conservative commentator Mark Levin (a fellow supporter) in an interview on Fox News that the Convention of State’s goal is “to reverse 115 years of progressivism.” A Constitution amended according to their vision would radically change our system of federalism, and not in a good way. 

The Convention of States campaign has gathered major endorsements from leading conservative media personalities, elected officials, and special interest groups, including Senator Marco Rubio, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Senator Rand Paul, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sean Hannity, Pete Hegseth, Allen West, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and others. 

Not only are they well funded, but they are preparing for a win. In September of 2016, the Convention of States held a mock convention to come up with proposed amendments to the Constitution. Over 120 state legislators from all over the country convened to pretend to overhaul the U.S. Constitution. 

Since the mock convention, the Center for Public Integrity has found that legislators in at least 27 states have proposed bills calling for a real convention. This convention was funded by secret money – Meckler and his two groups, Citizens for Self-Governance and Convention of States Action, paid at least $130,000 combined for 81 lawmakers to attend the mock convention. 

In total, the mock convention was attended by 137 people, including more than a dozen academics, former legislators and businesspeople, according to Convention of States Action. 

The results show they plan to use a convention to implement an extreme agenda into the Constitution and how a convention cannot be limited. The changes they proposed would forever alter the federal government and put civil rights and needed programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid at risk. 

This is not an issue that affects only one party if implemented. It would affect all members of all parties and the constituents they represent. 

An editorial by Tulsa World put it best by saying, “A runaway convention, and that is very possible, could be a threat to the Bill of Rights. Liberal states might try to alter the Second Amendment. Conservatives might want to change the First Amendment making Christianity the official religion of the country. There are no limits or restrictions on what such a convention could address.” 

The fundamentals on which our current political parties stand are at risk with an Article V convention – the rights that every American holds dear, regardless of political affiliation – will be at risk. 

In the last five years, the Convention of States resolution has passed in 15 states: Georgia, Alaska, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arizona, North Dakota, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Utah, and Mississippi. 

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Legislators in West Virginia Have a Fight on Their Hands

Some lawmakers in West Virginia are, like many other state legislators across the country, fighting against the dangerous call their state has made for an Article V constitutional convention.   This call for a constitutional convention, or Convention of States, is a well-funded campaign led by Tea Party Patriots co-founder Mark Meckler, Texas mega donor Tim Dunn, […]

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Scholars Invite Mark Meckler to Debate a Constitutional Convention

A public debate is slated for Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 5 pm MST in the Lincoln Room of the Idaho Legislature. This forum will offer both sides the opportunity to discuss the merits of the proposed Article V Constitutional Convention, or Convention of States, now being pushed through legislatures across the country.   A constitutional convention could put all our rights […]

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Former Governors Mike Huckabee and Scott Walker Descend on SC State House and Create Confusion

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recently visited the South Carolina State House to gather support for their “balanced budget amendment.”   What they did not discuss, however, was the damage a convention could do to the United States and the Constitution if this were to be called.   This pro-convention campaign is the one that has progressed the […]

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Convention of States “Reopen America” Ploy

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South Dakota rescission vote shows how complex the issue of an Article V constitutional convention really is

Last week, the South Dakota state senate held a vote on SJR 503 – legislation that would rescind all applications South Dakota has for an Article V constitutional convention. In January, South Dakota had introduced HJR 5001, a resolution that would have added their names to the Convention of States initiative, which seeks to call a dangerous Article V convention […]

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Exposed: The Balanced Budget Amendment Convention Campaign

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, wealthy special interest groups convinced dozens of state legislatures to pass resolutions or “calls” for an Article V convention to propose a balanced budget amendment (BBA). At one point, BBA advocates were just a few states short of reaching the constitutionally required 34 state required to call a convention. However, […]

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Republican & Democratic Legislators Agree: An Article V Convention Is A Bad Idea

In their own words, Republican and Democratic state legislators from across the country have warned about the dangers of calling an Article V constitutional convention: “It’s like playing Russian roulette. We kind of think it would work out well. You put a bullet in one chamber, the odds of it working are pretty good. But […]

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New Hampshire’s upcoming vote to rescind calls for a constitutional convention affects us all

This legislative season in New Hampshire has been busy when it comes to the dangerous push for an Article V constitutional convention. HCR 6 and the call for a constitutional convention was handily defeated in a bipartisan manner with a vote of 318-27.  While this was a great win for New Hampshire because it did not add any new calls to their roster, they still have existing applications for a convention […]

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