West Virginia on Saturday became the 28th state in the nation to approve an application for an Article V convention of the states. The House of Delegates approved House Concurrent Resolution 36 on Friday evening by a vote of 66 to 27. The state Senate approved the resolution by a voice vote the next day.
An Article V convention is called when 34 state legislatures submit applications to Congress on the same topic. The states of Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Virginia are also considering applications sponsored by the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force. Heartland does not endorse any particular Article V effort.
The following statements from constitutional reform experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at [email protected] and 312/377-4000.
“West Virginia legislators made a bold statement over the weekend that they are demanding Washington politicians finally get the nation’s fiscal matters in order. A state that was once associated with big-government liberalism is now a leader in demanding conservative reforms in the national and state governments.
“The citizens of the Mountain State have long demanded a balanced budget requirement to the Constitution of the United States. My hope is that other states like Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin will fully enact applications for an Article V convention so we can get our country back on track.”
Kyle Maichle
Project Manager, Constitutional Reform
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
312/377-4000
“Kudos to Delegate John Overington (R-62) and the entire West Virginia legislature, which recognized that the states can safely use their authority under Article V to propose via a convention this much-needed amendment to the Constitution. They might just be the hardest-working legislature in the country. More than 80 percent of the citizens of West Virginia support a federal balanced budget amendment. With the passage by six more states, Delegate Overington’s 30-year quest for a federal balanced budget amendment might finally be realized.”
Dave Guldenschuh
Constitutional Reform Policy Adviser
The Heartland Institute
312/377-4000
[email protected]
“Just as the Constitution assures Americans their right to vote, speak freely, and run for office, so it also assures Americans the ability to control their federal government. A key part of the Constitution empowers the people, acting through their state legislatures, to enact further constitutional restraints on Washington, DC.
“The West Virginia House of Delegates has now shown that it understands the opportunity – and the duty – the Constitution gives us.”
Rob Natelson
Director of the Article V Information Center & Retired Law Professor
The Independence Institute
312/377-4000
[email protected]
The Heartland Institute is a 32-year-old national nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000.
David Guldenschuh is a leader in the nationwide movement of states to call a convention of states pursuant to Article V of the U.S.
