Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, told the House State Affairs Committee this morning, as he presented HCR 32, a call for an Article V constitutional convention, “I think it’s very important that we consider this at this time, because I think we all agree that we’re in trouble in this country, with a debt we don’t seem to be able to manage, with all of the other things that are occurring.”

“I think that there’s great alarm,” Loertscher said, “and this is just one method where the states can assert their authority. You have more authority than you think as it pertains to these matters. It was granted to us in Article V and by our creator, and we certainly should assert our authority in this matter.”

Under questioning from members of the committee, Loertscher said the convention of states would operate with each state getting one vote. Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, asked what would happen “if it was not one state one vote, and Idaho, with our low population, really wouldn’t have much representation?”

Loertscher said, “Then our delegation would not participate. The call would effectively be rescinded, because that’s one of the parameters here. … This is a convention of states, one state, one vote.”

Others with questions about the rules of an Article V convention included Reps. Priscilla Giddings, Brent Crane and Christy Zito.

“Legislatures are the ones that are in charge of this, not the governor and not the Congress,” Loertscher told them.

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