Indiana’s 119th General Assembly made history yesterday as the House voted 61-39 to pass Senate Joint Resolution 14 (SJR14), calling for a Convention of States to propose amendments under Article V of the United States Constitution. The resolution, drafted by the Convention of States Project (COSP), calls for a convention to propose amendments on the following topics: “impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.”
“The Washington leviathan has been overstepping its constitutionally limited powers for too long,” said Mark Meckler, President of Citizens for Self-Governance and co-founder of the Convention of States Project. “The federal government derives its power from the people and the states, and today marks another step towards reinstating that authority. Congratulations to Indiana on becoming the sixth state to pass the Convention of States resolution to reclaim state power. Our team in The Hoosier State did a fantastic job, and I’m honored to work with such dedicated patriots.”
SJR14 is sponsored in the House by Representative Eric Koch from Bedford (District 65) and in the Senate by Senator Travis Holdman, from Markle (District 19). Ten additional senators and representatives signed their name to the resolution as co-sponsors. The resolution was also bolstered by an active and quickly growing grassroots organization with more than 13,000 Indianans choosing liberty.
COSP Indiana State Director, Diane Gomez said, “The Indiana legislature has made history today. Wisdom and the Constitution have prevailed. We the people have the right to propose amendments to limit the federal government at the state level. It's time the people have their say.”
House Sponsor Eric Koch said: "Article V is the tool given to the state legislatures by the Founders to use in the event the Federal government exceeded its authority and put the nation in jeopardy. They were wise in their foresight. Washington will not fix itself, and we have the obligation to act."
More and more statesmen and constitutional experts are stepping up to urge citizens and state legislators to use this constitutional tool before it is too late. Recent endorsements include Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, American economist Thomas Sowell, Presidential candidate Senator Marco Rubio and South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan. They join the ranks of other well-known political figures such as retired U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (OK), Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Gov. Sarah Palin, Gov. John Kasich, Gov. Bobby Jindal and Col. Allen West.
Want your state to join Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Alaska in their calls for an Article V Convention of States? Sign the Convention of States petition, and we'll send a copy directly to your state legislators! This is one of the best ways to help the Project and let your state reps know how you feel about the Article V movement.
About the Convention of States Project
The Convention of States Project is currently organized in all 50 states, including over a million volunteers, supporters and advocates committed to stopping the federal government’s abuse of power. Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Indiana have passed our Article V resolution since the Project’s founding in 2013. Currently, twenty-eight states are considering the Convention of States resolution. For more information visit www.ConventionofStates.com.
