Convention of States (COS) held a Town Hall at the Alpena Library on April 9, 2022. Convention of States (COS) is a nonpartisan organization that educates people about Article V of the U.S. Constitution as a solution to “runaway big government.”
In spite of cold, snowy weather, individuals from Presque Isle, Rogers City and Alpena came together to learn how they can help address problems in the government. District Captain Jim Carter and Regional Captain Bruce Finlayson described current concerns caused by the increasing federal control in our country, and how Article V of the Constitution allows states to pass resolutions to call a convention. The current resolution for a convention has been written to address three major issues: improper federal spending; federal overreach; and term limits for politicians.
The COS resolution -- HJR-E -- is currently before the Michigan legislature. Carter stated how important it is to become involved by contacting legislators and ask them to support the bill. “Both parties are destroying our country, with out of control spending and politicians who are out of touch with what their constituents really want. We need to get involved and ask our state representatives and senators to support calling for a convention of states,” he said.
COS is nonpartisan, and during the presentation, they shared how it has strong support at the grassroots level regardless of political party, with 55 % of democrats, 75% of Republicans and 62% of Independents surveyed indicating they favor it as a solution to “big government” at the federal level. This is one reason that it is a growing grassroots movement, with over 5 million volunteers and supporters nationwide.
Questions were raised after the presentation, with people in the audience asking “What would stop a ‘runaway’ convention from passing all kinds of amendments?” Carter and Finlayson explained that this would be impossible for several reasons. First, calling a convention requires 34 states to pass a resolution in their legislatures to call a convention. Once this is done, the convention would meet to propose amendments, based on addressing only the three issues described above, and then the vote would go back to each state legislature to approve or disapprove. “It would only take 13 states to stop an amendment, making a ‘runaway’ convention impossible,” stated Finlayson.
“This was a good, straightforward presentation without grandstanding for a candidate or party,” stated a member of the audience. “I liked that.” Others agreed, sharing ideas they had for getting out the word about COS on social media and locally at the county level.
Do you want to learn more about COS – and find out about the solution to alarming federal government growth endorsed by constitutional lawyers such as Mark Levin? Click here for a short three minute video.
Want to make a difference? You can sign the petition for COS by clicking here.
Join the millions of Americans around the country who are taking steps to stop attempts at runaway growth by the federal government and let your voice be heard.
Learn about how Convention of States is calling for a proposal to convene to limit our runaway government, and keep decisions like these at the state level, where your voice can be heard.
