Another masterclass in Ohio

The 2022 State Team of the Year made a triumphant return to Columbus for yet another jaw-dropping, opposition-silencing testimony in the Ohio General Assembly.

On Tuesday, the Ohio Senate Committee on General Government heard proponent testimony on Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 3, the COS resolution for a limited Article V convention, and reviewed the state’s 34 Ready legislation. Building on 2023’s “masterclass” performance, the grassroots team in Ohio once again rose to the occasion, captivating legislators with the powerful logic behind Article V.

Systematically addressing topics such as fiscal restraints, term limits, the size and scope of the federal government, COS myths, and more, the trained volunteer activists joined with former Senator Rick Santorum to deliver the definitive case for calling a convention.

“I’m coming from Washington, and I’m asking for your help,” Santorum reinvented Ronald Reagan’s famous quote. Drawing on his decades of experience in the federal government, the senator declared “with a matter of certainty” that Washington will not fix the problems confronting the nation.

Representing over 117,000 Ohioan petition signers, the team pushed for the committee to advance the resolution as a bipartisan solution to the endless growth of the federal government.

Laying out the principles of federalism, one proponent reminded the legislators that the “Declaration of Independence was an announcement to the world that the colonists could and would manage their own affairs. It was a statement establishing the right of individual liberty and local sovereignty.”

“The Constitution followed, securing the liberty of the people by granting the federal government only 27 enumerated powers,” he added, noting that “as the power of the federal government expands, so expands the necessary regulations and control which steal the very liberties government is supposed to protect.”

Supporters argued the Founders entrusted state legislators to act as a check against Washington's enlargement and urged them to use Article V to restore the balance of power. 

The committee, which adjourned without voting, is expected to return to SJR 3 after hearing opponent testimony. Fortunately, the team has already debunked the most common arguments against COS.

By passing SJR 3, the Buckeye State has the opportunity to help curb federal overreach and preserve self-governance. Watch the full hearing below for more information, and follow Convention of States for future updates!