2023 was a significant year for Convention of States Action in Kansas. Thank you for being part of this movement.
Grassroots Action: Thousands of emails and calls to Kansas legislators in January contributed to the House adopting a rule change to eliminate the 2/3 majority requirement to pass an Article V measure. This set the stage for votes on the resolution in each chamber.
The grassroots rose up again in March to encourage passage of Article V resolutions in the House and Senate. Every legislator was contacted by constituents either by phone, email, paper mail and in-person visits. Convention of States supporters appeared at legislative coffees and town hall meetings in key districts. Legislators remarked that "COS supporters were everywhere."
Volunteer Activity: Volunteers gave hundreds of hours to staff COS booths and tables at events across the state that included gun shows, county fairs, conventions, community festivals and of course the Kansas State Fair.
Legislators received thousands of petitions from their districts this year. A total of 44,139 Kansans have now petitioned their legislators to do their duty to check the out-of-control national government.
The COS resolutions, HCR5008 and SCR1607, finished the session with solid majorities in each chamber voting to pass the resolutions. Despite the Kansas Attorney General's earlier opinion that the Kansas Constitution was not a limiting factor when the legislature was acting on an Article V measure the votes were ruled to have failed to reach the 2/3 majority required by the Kansas Constitution. A lawsuit has been filed by Rep. Michael Murphy and Sen. Mike Thompson against the Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson petitioning the court to rule that the measures passed. If the plaintiffs prevail Kansas will be the 20th state to pass unless another state passes before the case is decided.
Watch the national video 2023 IN REVIEW. Checkout Kansas Rep. Clarke Sanders from Salina at 3:02 in the video.
What's next? As a passed state we will pivot to work for passage of legislation supporting Federalism, Freedom and Fundamental Rights. We call it F3. There will be several measures in the upcoming legislative session which we may adopt for grassroots support.
2024 promises to be year of tremendous challenge for the entire world. We are choosing to not be spectators. We must take bold action to protect our republic. Bold action starts with your family and friends. Make sure they have signed the COS petition. As a passed state our petition implores our legislators to stay the course and defend our call for a convention.
Thank you for all you do. We know many of you are being challenged in these days. Don't lose heart.
God bless you. God bless Kansas and God bless our United States of America.
