House panel opens hearing on Article V constitutional convention call

There’s a line of folks signing up to testify at this morning’s hearing in the Lincoln Auditorium on HCR 32, the measure from Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, calling for an Article V convention of the states for the purpose of proposing amendments to the U.S. Constitution to create checks, such as a balanced budget rule and term limits, on federal power. Either 34 states or two-thirds of both houses of Congress can call for a constitutional amendment; 38 states have to approve amendments.

Most of those signing up so far are opposed to the idea; critics say there’s no way to control where such a convention could go, and oppose opening up the Constitution to changes.

You can read HCR 32 here .

Loertscher, who chairs the House State Affairs Committee – the panel considering the bill – read from Article V of the Constitution as the hearing opened, and drew a distinction that backers of the move fervently point out: “I didn’t read in there anything that has to do with a constitutional convention,” he said. “If we were to call for a constitutional convention it would be an unconstitutional call. … This is not a call for a constitutional convention but rather a convention of states to propose amendments to the United States Constitution, subject to ratification. That’s a high bar.” He noted that if the required number of states didn’t ratify a proposed amendment, “It’s not an amendment to the Constitution,” and said, “That is an extremely high burden.”