The committed and talented grassroots COS Hawai'i team achieved a tremendous victory and significant milestone on March 20 when the Hawai'i Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs passed the Convention of States resolution, SCR 196.
The committee passed the resolution shortly following testimony from the team. Convention of States Action (COSA) president and co-founder Mark Meckler also offered testimony remotely. As he said following the committee's favorable vote, the Hawai'i team did so well that "there wasn't much for me to do" in the way of testifying.
COS Hawai'i state director Mark White delivered opening remarks and addressed objections to an Article V convention. Following his testimony, members of the team discussed, among other subjects, the national debt, the role of state legislators in the Article V process, and the nonpartisan nature of the COS resolution.
There was no testimony in opposition to SCR 196.
The committee limited testimony to two minutes, and the Hawai'i team did a splendid job in making their arguments in favor of the resolution succinctly effective. Following the hearing, state director White said that the more limited versions of the testimony "actually worked better." The team had diligently rehearsed their testimony, and adjusted brilliantly.
Hawai'i joins Massachusetts as the second predominantly "blue" state that has passed a COS resolution in legislative committee. This demonstrates as, COSA senior vice president for legislative affairs Rita Peters said, that we can do this "in any state."
If you were unable to watch coverage of the testimony, committee vote, and remarks from Peters, Meckler, and White, click below for the live action replay:
The COS resolution in Hawai'i was assigned to two committees. If the other committee hurdle is cleared, the resolution will move to the floor of the Senate for consideration before the entire body.
COS Hawai'i is to be congratulated for their ceaseless efforts in gathering nearly 10,000 petition signers, establishing productive relationships with their state legislators, and preparing, practicing, and delivering the testimony that yielded this thrilling and historic result.
Ho'omaika'i 'ana, Hawai'i COS!
