JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A group of state senators have filed legislation invoking Article V of the U.S. Constitution to amend the constitution in various ways. Although Article V is typically used by Congress to make amendments, a clause within the language allows for two-thirds of state legislatures to also draft and pass amendments.
Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, is sponsoring one of the concurrent resolutions that would call for a convention of the states to amend the constitution to limit federal power and jurisdiction, impose new fiscal restrictions on the federal government and institute Congressional term limits.
Schaefer believes the current gridlock as well as vested self-interest will prevent Congress from voting on passing such matters.
“If you could bring other founders back right now, they would be absolutely dismayed the states have never used this process right now.” Schaefer said. “It is very easy to ratchet down the terms of who we send and what we send them there for. This is historical, groundbreaking decision making, but we have to do it.”
“When we look at the financial crash. We had to cut almost $2 billion out of the budget and we did it. It was hard to do, we had to go back to our districts and see people in the grocery store and our answer was, we’re going to be accountable. Congress is never ever going to do that.”
Schaefer believes the compacts offered by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, and Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, for a balanced budget will not stick because Congress gets to vote on compacts.
“Congress is never going to fix this,” he said. “If it’s a compact, you put Congress in the driver’s seat, they have to ratify it and they’re never going to go against their best interests.”
In addition to the compact, Dixon had legislation identical to Schaefer’s. He says using that provision is an important way to check the power of government.
“This is a mechanism that has been placed in the constitution by the same people who wrote things we cherished like the First Amendment and the Second Amendment,” Dixon said. “Why would we not utilize the tool we have been given out of a false fear that has been manufactured to say, well if we open that convention it could go in a number of directions.”
Sen. Jason Holsman and Mike Parson presented like bills as well. Schaefer and Dixon presented similar legislation last year.
