Convention of States Looking to Limit Out-of-Control Federal Spending Now at Halfway Mark – Opinion

Since decades the federal government seems to have been just throwing away taxpayer funds with almost no thought. The spending in Washington is so bad that politicians are using our children’s children’s children’s money and there seems to be no sign that it’ll stop. All clues point to the fact that what we’re looking at is a full-on addiction to spending.

That’s why many states have now called for a constitutional convention in order to amend the legendary document, effectively limiting the amount of spending the government can do, and while it’s an uphill battle, it’s now reached the halfway mark.

According to Fox News, since the federal government can’t seem to get itself under control, states are stepping in to handcuff Washington. Up to now, 17 states have signed on for a convention. Nebraska is the most recent. It doesn’t just stop there, either. The bill also seeks term limitations for members of Congress:

The Nebraska Legislature passed a resolution Jan. 28 calling on states to begin the formal process to pass constitutional amendments that would limit the federal government’s spending and jurisdiction, as well as set term limits for members of Congress.

“What’s driving this as much as anything is overreach on the part of the federal government,” Nebraska state Sen. Steve Halloran, who sponsored the resolution, told Fox News.

“The Founding Fathers had anxiety that that might happen,” he said. “I don’t believe they imagined that it would get to this point.”

Halloran’s LR14 seeks to “impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.”

In order to call a convention, it has to be agreed upon by 34 states making Nebraska the halfway mark in an ongoing quest that’s been in the works since 2013. If it does happen, Fox News noted that this type will be the first in the country’s history:

One chamber has approved the resolution in eight states. Legislation is currently pending in fifteen more. The Convention of States under Article V was never called.

Congress instead has been able to propose amendments. Since the Constitution’s adoption, only 27 amendments have been made.

“We have to look at the historic surroundings of when the Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787 and understand full well what the Founding Fathers had in mind for the states to have equal footing with the Congress in proposing amendments,” Halloran said. He told Fox News he believes this is the states’ opportunity to reclaim powers they relinquished to the federal government.

The likelihood of 17 more states signing on is unlikely at this time, but it’s not exactly something that’s been popularly discussed. Many have no idea about the ongoing effort to call a state convention, but if it became popular among the people, you’d likely see the process speed up a bit more.

It would be a good test of who can serve and who needs to be served. It’s tough to imagine D.C. politicians, especially ones who have been there for decades, suddenly giving up their cushy positions, even Republicans. Support for this convention is a great way to show us who’s here for the right reasons.