On January 6, 2018, the following speech was given to the Prince William County Delegation of the General Assembly.
State senators and delegates from Prince William County, in a room filled with constituents, listened to this important call for action on supporting Convention of States.
My name is Laurie Hackett, State Communications Coordinator with the Convention of States Project…because…Washington, D.C. is out of control.
Federal politicians have amassed a $20 trillion debt. Seeking a lifetime in power, they dump the expense on future generations.
This isn't a partisan issue . . . we are on an unsustainable path regardless of party affiliation. The bill our children, and grandchildren, will have to pay does NOT change according to party lines.
The Framers knew this day could come. Thus, they have uniquely empowered YOU, the state legislators to be the last line of defense for We the People against an overreaching federal government.Thus they gave the People, through Article V, the power to petition their state legislators to call an amendments convention, a Convention of States.
The Framers were no strangers to conventions. Scores of conventions were held in hundreds of years in America, beginning in 1689, with the last in 1922.After WWII Congress was asked to propose an amendment to limit the president’s term of office. They refused. So, a Convention of States movement rose among We the People. When Congress saw its imminent success, they finally took action, which resulted in the 22nd Amendment.
Who will rein in the federal leviathan, today? In Virginia, over 24,000 people have petitioned YOU, their state legislators. We have over 3 million supporters across America.Twelve states are on board, 34 are needed. Momentum continues to build each day…because people are ready for their state representatives to employ their unique power to rein in the federal leviathan.
Our amendments fall under 3 topics: impose fiscal restraints, limit the scope and jurisdiction of federal authority, and impose term limits on federal officials.
Because so many conventions were held in the past, we have a library of copious notes of daily proceedings that allow us to know the rules of conventions.This year Virginia’s focus is to prove the rules by seeking your support of HJ 49 and SJ 31, the Delegate Selection/Limitation Resolution, which lays out clearly defined rules and defines sanctions should a delegate violate his or her oath.
America’s self-governance began on the shores of Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. Conventions were commonly held, rules were commonly understood…and it was commonly expected to run through the course of history for future generations. Hence the phrase, a republic…if you can keep it.
As a state legislator you are uniquely empowered by the Constitution to be the last line of defense for We the People against an overreaching federal government. Please vote “yes” for HJ 49 and SJ 31.
A month later, Richmond fumbled by not moving the HJ49 and SJ31 out of the Rules Committees of the Senate and House of Delegates.
They need to hear from their constituents that the time is now to rein in the federal leviathan. Contact your state legislators today.
To watch Laurie's speech, click on the video below and skip to the 37:18 mark.
