Unlocking the Power of the People: Why Ohio Must Pass the Convention of States Resolution
In the heart of Ohio, a pivotal opportunity awaits our state legislators, one that could reshape the dynamics of power in Washington and reignite the spirit of constitutional governance. The clarion call comes from The Heritage Foundation, a revered institution whose recent report authored by John Malcolm, Vice President of Heritage Institute for Constitutional Government, underscores the transformative potential of an Article V convention.
The report illuminates a constitutional avenue never yet walked—the power vested in the states through Article V, an untapped well of authority. The lack of publicized interstate conventions in recent history has left the American populace largely unaware of the states’ potential to use the convention process to initiate meaningful change, independently addressing national concerns without sole reliance on the U.S. Congress.
The Convention of States movement is a grassroots force seeking to rectify this oversight. By calling a convention for proposing amendments within the limited scope of three subject areas (term limits, fiscal restraints, and limits to the size and jurisdiction of the federal government), the states can send a clear message to Washington—a declaration that the people are alert and prepared to reclaim the power that has, for too long, been abused.
The historical weight of this movement was noticeable during the Simulated Article V Convention attended by Malcolm in August 2023. Describing the event as a platform for "serious discussions by serious people about serious matters," Malcolm shed light on the fervent debates and emphasis on federalism.
As Ohio Rep. Riordan McClain said, “Coming together in Williamsburg with delegates from all over the country to run through the simulated Article V Convention was a surreal experience that I won’t forget. The lessons learned and procedural structure followed at the event helped me discuss the process with my colleagues in the legislature. Next step is calling the real deal.”
Following the Simulation, Dr. Kevin Roberts, President of The Heritage Foundation, not only endorsed the cause but urged states and conservatives to rally behind this mission. The Heritage Foundation's acknowledgment of the broken state of Washington and the Founding Fathers' foresight in embedding Article V as a constitutional backstop stresses the urgency for action.
To convene an Article V convention, 34 states are required to pass resolutions. As of now, 19 states have officially joined the movement, with more pending resolutions. Dr. Roberts' support is a catalyst for legislative action in Ohio and other states, propelling the dream of the first-ever Article V convention closer to reality.
As we stand at the precipice of history, Ohio legislators hold the key to unlocking the potential embedded in Article V. The call is clear, the momentum undeniable—now is the time for action, for Ohio legislators to seize their role in shaping the destiny of the nation.
It’s time Ohio’s leaders pass the Convention of States Resolution. Ohioans are ready to join the movement and be a catalyst for positive change.
Physicians for COS
The diagnosis is clear.
We have a growing cancer today known as the Obamacare. As a result physicians are no longer free to practice medicine.No profession feels the full force of the federal government more than physicians. The medical profession is the most highly regulated profession in the United States. The practice of medicine is controlled, taxed, and regulated to the point of being destroyed by the heavy hand of the federal government.
Physicians are told how to bill, how much to charge, and how to treat patients. They are mandated to use expensive electronic medical records. The federally enacted HIPPA (Health Information Privacy and Portability Act) makes the communication between physicians and atients burdensome, inefficient,and expensive. Every physician is required by federal mandate to register with the government to obtain an NPI (national provider identifier.) We are required by federal law to obtain and pay for a license to prescribe medication through the DEA, which is separate from our state licensure.
This heavy hand of government not only oversees the largest federal health bureaucracy ever created, but by extension reaches into every state, every city, and every small town to regulate how every licensed physician practices the art of medicine and how citizens obtain care.
The treatment is also clear.
The prescription for a cure was written into our constitution by our founders. Article V of our constitution allows for the states to call for a convention of states to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government through the proposal of constitutional amendments. Physicians should be the strongest supporters of this brilliantly-crafted states’ rights tool placed into our constitution by our founders.
I urge my fellow American physicians to join with me in supporting an Article V Convention of States to take back control of the practice of medicine. It’s the only way that we can return the practice of medicine back to the intimate relationship between a doctor and patient without interference by the heavy hand of a distant, national government.
Jeffrey I. Barke, M.D. Family Physician Newport Beach, CA