Article V Convention Resolution Advances in Iowa House and Senate

Iowa has come one step closer to joining eight states who have passed a resolution calling for an Article V Convention. Iowa’s resolution survived the Legislature’s first funnel week which requires non-appropriations bills to pass through committee to remain under consideration. SSB 1110 passed in the Iowa Senate State Government Committee on Tuesday in bipartisan fashion 12 to 3. HJR 11 passed in the House Judiciary Committee 12 to 8.

Thirty-four states are needed and so far Alaska, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee have passed a similar resolution. An additional 11 states have seen resolutions passed in one of their legislative chambers.

This movement is a grassroots effort in the states to reign in control of the federal government. Article V of the Constitution says that “on the application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several states” a convention can be called for proposing amendments to the Constitution.

Iowa’s resolution calls for a convention in order to “propose Amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints, and limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.”

The resolution offers three chief complaints about the federal government and why these amendments are needed.

• “the federal government has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending”
• “the federal government has invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent”
• “the federal government has ceased to live under a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United States”

The Convention of the States (COS) Project founded by Citizens for Self-Governance reports that the movement has received endorsements from Texas Governor Greg Abbot, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), conservative radio host Mark Levin, Fox News host Sean Hannity, former Congressman Allen West (R-FL), former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

COS has written proposed rules for a future Article V convention and ran a simulated convention last fall. The focus of any amendments, according to state resolutions and the proposed rules, will center on fiscal restraints, federal jurisdiction and term limits.