Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation calling for a Convention of the States under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to rein in federal spending and overreach.
In prepared testimony to the committee, state Rep. Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky, said House Joint Resolution 2 calls for a convention limited to proposing amendments to put federal government spending restraints in place, restrain the federal government’s power and jurisdiction and limit the terms of office for its officials and members of Congress.
“Our current experience as Americans has become to live in presidential cycles, as much of federal policy is accomplished through executive action and the states have become diminished,” McClain said in prepared testimony. “Those policies, as we’ve seen, can be reversed just as easily as [they were] signed.
“Congress has abdicated nearly all its authority to federal bureaucracies, allows our military to be used without declaring war, and recklessly prints and spends our [citizens’] taxes to the point where we are 36 trillion in debt and interest payments are quickly becoming our largest line item,” McClain added.
McClain also called out the U.S. Supreme Court, which he said has changed interpretations of our Constitution to favor an ever-expanding government role through the General Welfare and Interstate Commerce clauses.
“All of this unconstitutional abuse can be corrected by the states at a convention,” McClain said.
Dozens of Ohioans provided testimony in support of HJR 2.
Steve Jones, a Mason resident, told lawmakers that “the only way to curtail DC’s overreach was to call for a Convention of States for the purpose of limiting the authority and scope of the Federal Government.”
“How can you bring the money, power and influence back to Ohio? How can you govern Ohio without interference from DC?” Jones asked in prepared testimony. “How can you legislate without your laws being overturned in DC? How can you bring substantial meaning back to your position in the Ohio House? How can you make sure you do not have to beg DC to bring more tax money back for Ohioans? How can you stop DC’s tyranny over Ohio? How can you maintain liberty for your children and your grandchildren?”
“Pass HJR 2, and you will have done something that only you can do – and future generations will rise up and call you blessed and thank you for it,” Jones added.
A second measure, House Bill 67, the Faithful Delegates bill, “creates a framework for the Ohio State Legislature to choose and instruct its commissioners to an Article V convention for proposing amendments,” Michael Farris said in prepared testimony to the House Government Oversight Committee.
“I believe that our nation is approaching, in the near future, its first-ever Article V convention, and it is prudent for the state to put these procedures in place in advance,” Farris added.
Both measures are pending before the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee.
Under HB 67, delegates would be barred from changing the Bill of Rights and the 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th amendments, McClain said.
“These delegates will be chosen by the [General] Assembly and must meet distinct criteria to be considered for the position,” state Rep. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, said in prepared testimony. “Additionally, the delegates will be subject to an appointed advisory committee to oversee their actions and ensure they do not act outside the scope of their given authority.”
This advisory committee would include a member of the Senate appointed by the Senate president, a House speaker-appointed member, and a member nominated by joint action of the Senate president and House speaker and approved by the majority of those voting in each chamber. Delegates who violate the convention’s guidelines would be guilty of a third-degree felony.
