The following was written by Regional Captain Warren Wheeler and originally published in the Richmond-Times Dispatch.
On. Sept. 15, 231 years ago, George Mason spent the day persuading his fellow delegates at the Constitutional Convention to fix a fatal flaw in their draft document.
Mason feared the federal government would one day go rogue. With extraordinary foresight, he secured a constitutional safeguard now being employed to defend against federal overreach.
Mason’s fear was well founded. Not only have Washington’s career politicians amassed a $20 trillion debt, more than 70 percent of it has been borrowed just since 2001.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the 2017 deficit at $693 billion. Mason grasped the challenge: stopping dangerously out-of-control federal officeholders.
His solution was to change Article V, which spells out the two-step amendment process: First they are proposed, then separately adopted by three-fourths of the states (ratification).
As then drafted, only Congress could propose amendments.
Mason saw clearly the problem: If the only way to propose amendments was through Congress, would it ever reform itself?
Those abusing power do not seek change.
The Framers got it: Article V now enables states to stop federal abuses.
Amendments can be proposed at a Convention of States. This requires two-thirds (34) of the states to articulate their common purpose for the convention in like-worded resolutions approved by their legislature.
Twelve states currently have coalesced behind such a resolution, which limits proposed amendments to ending runaway debt, curtailing federal powers, and limiting terms of federal officeholders.
Virginia legislators should pass this resolution. Only constitutional amendments can stop a federal government this wildly irresponsible.
Join Virginia’s Convention of States Project volunteers to find out.
When you do, tip your hat to George Mason.
