Senator Tom Coburn

IN MEMORIAM (March 14, 1948 – March 28, 2020)

Senior Advisor Convention of States

[biography] Dr. Coburn’s experience as Chairman of the Federal Financial Management Subcommittee means that he knows exactly where our specific problems lie.  “What most people don’t realize is that every single piece of government waste has a constituency,” says Coburn,

“And most politicians don’t want to do anything to jeopardize their future elections. So they remain unresolved election cycle after election cycle, and the American people are stuck with the consequences. A Convention of States, on the other hand, can impose those restraints from the outside and secure our financial future.”

Knowing that staying in power for many election cycles is a detriment to effective statesmanship, Senator Coburn has insisted on term-limiting himself in every office he has held. He says, “Our Founders never intended that there be a ruling class of career politicians. When members of Congress stay in Washington election after election, they become less concerned about working for their constituents and
more concerned about keeping their power.”

Senator Rand Paul

Senator Paul stated, “Years of abuse and overreach by the judicial, legislative and executive branches of the federal government have obliterated the enumerated powers established by our founders and made a mockery of the 10th Amendment rights granted to the states and the people.

"That’s why I support the Convention of States Project to restore the original constitutional limits on federal power by calling a limited convention to propose amendments to rein in our out-of-control federal government.”

Senator Rand Paul, MD, is one of the nation’s leading champions for liberty and a staunch opponent of federal overreach. As a hard-working and dedicated physician—not a career politician—Dr. Paul came to Washington in 2010 to shake up the status quo and make a difference. He has been a principled voice for fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and fidelity to the Constitution. 

“Senator Rand Paul is one of America’s strongest defenders of the Constitution and his support for the on-going effort by more than three million grassroots activists is going to draw more citizens to the front line battle against the administrative state,” explained Mark Meckler, President of Citizens for Self-Governance and the Convention of States Project.

“His unwavering commitment to supporting grassroots efforts to strip the federal government of the power is legendary and this should be a clarion call for all swamp dwellers: Time’s Up!”

MOVING FORWARD! 

Strategies for Proposed State Amendment Meeting:

The first point of the Convention of States strategy is to:

[C]all a convention for a particular subject rather than a particular amendment. Instead of calling a convention for a balanced budget amendment (though we are entirely supportive of such an amendment), we want to call a convention for the purpose of limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.  The idea of a single-subject convention is critical to our strategy and separates us from many of the single-amendment convention organizations out there.

Two types of conventions can be called under Article V: plenipotentiary conventions and limited conventions.

At a plenipotentiary convention, delegates can discuss and propose any amendments they deem appropriate. They are not limited to a particular amendment or a particular subject, though under the text of Article V, such a convention is still limited to merely proposing amendments. Even so, we don’t support such a convention, nor do we know of any organization that does.

At a limited convention, on the other hand, the delegates are limited to pre-determined amendments or subjects. For example, if the states agree (through their applications) to discuss a balanced budget amendment, the delegates at a Convention of States are only authorized to discuss and propose an amendment that requires a balanced federal budget. (For background on why an Article V Amending Convention can be limited, see this article by Prof. Rob Natelson, section IX).

Furthermore, if the states agree to discuss amendments that limit the size and jurisdiction of the federal government, the delegates may only discuss and propose amendments that fall under that category. We wish to call this type of convention, and there are three reasons we believe such a convention would most effectively curb the abuses of Washington, D.C.

First, a single-amendment application restricts the deliberative freedom of the convention. The Founders intended conventions to be deliberative bodies that were more than just rubber stamps for the states. In fact, single-amendment conventions may be unconstitutional because they undermine the deliberative purpose of the convention. A single-subject convention, on the other hand, allows the convention delegates some freedom to consider creative and intelligent solutions, while still keeping them within clearly defined limits. Moreover, we know single-subject convention are constitutional because the Founders held these types of conventions all the time.  

Second, a single-issue convention could consider a complete package of amendments to address the entire issue of federal overreach.   The problem in the federal government is not just Congress, or the President, or the Supreme  Court. All three are at fault, so a convention should  have authority to propose restraints on all three. A single-amendment convention cannot do this. We need a solution as big as the problem.

Third, a single-subject convention allows for greater unity among like-minded people. Getting 34 states to agree on a convention is hard work. The balanced budget folks have been working on a balanced budget convention for several decades without winning over 34 states. To get over the 34 state hump, we need all the friends of limited government to work together. We need people who support a balanced budget and people who support term limits. We need people who support taxing limitations and spending restraints. We need everyone together under one tent. Our single-subject application is the only way to get all these groups together and pushing for a common goal.

This is exactly what the Founders envisioned when they put a Convention of States in the Constitution: a group of state leaders from around the country coming together to resist federal tyranny. We can’t claim credit for the Convention of States application; it is nothing new. We are just following the guidance and vision of the Founders, whose God-given wisdom has brought us thus far. 

Local Events

Our State Director, John Guinn, continues to keep in touch with our legislators to maintain continued support.

YOU can help!  Get involved.

Oklahoma’s Convention of States team is looking for supporters to be part of our welcoming team.  

Become a Follow-Up Team Member

COS Oklahoma currently has a need for a State Legislative Liaison, to serve as the interface between Oklahoma legislators and the COS team. As legislative liaison, you will help educate legislators and assist the COS team in developing legislative strategies.

Apply to serve as legislative liaison

The grassroots are the key to victory -- high numbers ensure success. So are you ready to talk to your friends about the Convention of States Project?

Join our team as a District Captain!

It doesn't take a huge time commitment to make a difference. Five constituent phone calls is often enough to move an issue to the top of a state legislator's priority list. Join our team and watch your efforts yield results! 

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State Director

John R Guinn

Veteran, retired Federal employee, Adjunct professor of Political Science and American Federal Govt. Retired now and active volunteer for COS and the masonic lodge.