Things are looking good in Tennessee! Check out this excerpt from an article published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel:
Over the objections of Democrats, a House committee has cleared the way for Tennessee to become the fifth state to call for a national convention on amending the U.S. Constitution to curb "abuses of power" by the federal government and to impose term limits for members of Congress.
The movement is led in Tennessee by Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, and Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia, who attended a 2013 gathering of representatives from more than 30 states arranged by Citizens for Self-Governance.
The group began a nationally organized push for passage last year and, according to its website, the legislatures in four states — Alabama, Alaska, Georgia and Florida — quickly adopted resolutions calling for a "convention of the states," as allowed by Article 5 of the Constitution, to propose amendments. Approval of 34 states — two-thirds — would be needed to call such a convention
In Tennessee, Bell's SJR67 was approved by the Senate 23-5 last year. Butt brought the measure before the House State Government Committee last week where, after lengthy debate, it was approved on a 5-3 party-line vote — all Republicans supporting, all Democrats opposed.
Mack Meckler, president of CSG and described on that organization's website as previously the national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots, told the committee that Tennessee has the opportunity to hold a "special place" in the movement's history by becoming the first state to approve the resolution in 2016.
That would seem likely, given that Butt said 57 representatives have signed on as co-sponsors of the resolution — well over the 50 needed for passage. The measure could be on the House floor as early as Thursday.
