By Diana Telles, State Communications Coordinator, Ohio
On Tuesday, June 25, three witnesses from COS Ohio leadership offered proponent testimony in support of HB-607, the companion “faithful delegate” bill to the COS resolution HJR-3. Both pieces of legislation are currently under consideration in the Ohio House.
HB-607 establishes comprehensive procedures for Ohio for selecting delegates to any state convention held under the authority of Article V. In a nutshell, this legislation should dispel common concerns we often hear about the selection of state convention delegates and the authority of the delegation.
Last, in today’s busy lineup in the House Government Oversight Committee, our team offered committee members compelling points in favor of HB-607, drawing not a single substantive question from the committee.
While it is possible representatives were anxious as the hearing had proceeded well past the lunch hour, it is clear our witnesses showed up today to furnish the committee with rock-solid testimony. They easily clarified the importance of invoking an Article V convention and for the passage of this new sensible legislation that outlines a framework for the proper appointment of commissioners to a convention.
COS Ohio State Director Bill Scott cleverly took today’s opportunity to remind the committee that a recent Susquehanna poll showed that 76% of Ohioans overwhelmingly support calling for an Article V convention.
Taking into consideration concerns about partisan bias that was heard in the sponsor testimony of HB-607 earlier this month, Bill went on to promote the bipartisan support of a convention citing that 82% of Republicans responded in favor, along with 69% of Democrats, and 77% of Independents/no party affiliation.
Bill then went on to inform the committee, “An Article V convention is coming … it’s not a matter of “if” but when. This bill isn’t just about preparing for an Article V convention. It’s about affirming a commitment to responsible governance, accountability, and the sound principles of foresight and preparation.”
Following Bill, Vicky Geraci, District Captain for Ohio House Districts 60, 61, and 98, drove the bipartisan messaging even further, declaring that 13 of the 19 states passed the COS resolution with bipartisan support. What’s more, Vicki noted that in 2015 and 2017, Ohio’s COS resolution had bipartisan support with a Democrat co-sponsor Rep. Bill Patmon who cited the national debt as a primary concern.
Vickie continued, daring to invoke the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. This was a bold and important move considering opponents of Article V consistently twist Scalia’s words regarding a state convention into a message of warning.
Vicki referred to Scalia’s concern from back in 1979, when he insisted that Congress had become “professionalized.” Contradicting all prior testimony of our hyperbolic opponents, she quoted Scalia’s solution to Congressional iniquity, “‘One remedy for that, the one specifically outlined in the Constitution, is this amendment process which bypasses the Congress.’”
Rounding out the testimony was Ginnie Morgan, State Grassroots Coordinator, promoting self-governance in a time of divisiveness. She reminded committee members that amendments proposed in a state convention will require bipartisan input and will not be ratified without bipartisan support.
Applying a more human aspect to the messaging, Ginnie complimented all statesmen and stateswomen on their excellence. She reminded the committee that our country has big problems to solve, and quoted a trivet from her mother’s wall, “Be gentle in your opinions until you have walked a mile in another person’s moccasins.”
Ginnie closed her testimony in a plea for collaboration, asking questions of the committee members that she admits to asking herself:
- Are these problems solvable?
- Can we bravely speak out to find common ground that has broad appeal?
- What are the areas of compromise?
- Are we willing to listen to each other’s moccasin story?
As observed in the Ohio House, HB-607 must now be scheduled for opponent testimony. Recorded testimony for HB-607 held on June 25, 2024, begins at the 1 hour, 38-minute mark: https://tinyurl.com/y8rmjyyb
For more information about Convention of States Action and the tool our Founders gave us in Article V, please visit www.conventionofstates.com.
