North Dakota Becomes 27th State to Apply for a BBA-Focused Convention to Propose Amendments

 
LEESBURG, Va. - March 24, 2015 - PRLog -- The North Dakota Senate voted 29 to 17 to join that state’s House of Representatives (that had earlier voted 70 to 20) to formally put North Dakota on record as applying for an Article V convention to propose a BBA-focused us Constitutional amendment.

The North Dakota legislative action in adopting HCR 3015 causes that state to join 26 other states making such an application.  Article V of the US Constitution provides two ways amendments may be proposed to that founding document.  The first 27 Constitutional amendments have all been initiated (proposed) by Congress.

The second method provided in Article V is amendment proposals by a convention of states.  Once 34 states have adopted similar BBA-focused (single subject) applications and submitted them to Congress, Congress is mandated by Article V to set the date, time, and place for holding such an amendment-proposing convention.  That is the only involvement of Congress in the process.

The drafters of the US Constitution gave a lot of thought and debate before unanimously adopting the fifth Article in the proposed Constitution.  They clearly wanted a provision that allowed the Constitution to be amended when needed.  But they wanted states to have an equal opportunity to propose amendments during times when Congress could not (or would not) do so.  Inclusion of that provision was one of the keys to gaining ratification of the Constitution that they created in 1787.

So far in this legislative year Utah, South Dakota and North Dakota have joined the call for an Article V convention.  The BBA Task Force is currently working with the legislatures of 9 other states to pick up the 7 more needed.

The primary North Dakota Senate sponsor of HCR 3015 leading to today’s vote was Senator Jonathan Casper (District 27).  The earlier passage of that bill in the House was led by Representative Blair Thoreson (District 44).  Also very active in pressing for this bill and related Article V measures was State Representative Jim Kasper (District 46).

Upon adoption by the Senate, Rep. Thoreson said, “We’re excited because we need to get our nation on the right track.  This action tells Congress that we want a say in fixing our nation’s out-of-control fiscal mess.”

Rep. Kasper noted: “I believe that the Constitution means what is says.  Congress has forgotten that.  Their lust for power has overcome their commitment to follow the Constitution.  Fortunately our Founders provided a way to deal with that problem.  North Dakota legislators have realized that they need to use the tools the Founders provided in Article V.  I’m looking forward to the other states following our lead… so we can save our nation from the cliff we are heading toward.”

BBA Task Force leader David Biddulph pointed out, “Our nation has a problem with fiscal discipline.  We are more than $18 trillion in debt, and we are currently adding another $1 trillion to that debt each year.  No serious effort is being made by Congress to correct our course.  An Article V convention of states is the only way we can regain fiscal solvency, and assure continued national security.”

Biddulph said, “Twenty-seven of the needed 34 states are now on board.  Nine more states are being targeted yet this year.  A BBA-focused convention of states could be held as early as next spring.”

Contact
Scott Rogers
***@bba4usa.org
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