The Missouri House has advanced legislation sponsored by state Rep. Eric Burlison to protect the freedoms of Missouri citizens and all Americans by convening an Article V Convention of States. Burlison said the convention would be an important step toward restraining the abuses of power perpetrated by the federal government.
Burlison’s HCR 57 would call for the convention of the states to propose amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and members of Congress.
The resolution notes that the founding fathers “empowered state legislators to be guardians of liberty against future abuses of power by the federal government and the federal government has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending.” The resolution also notes that the federal government has “invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandates, most of which are unfunded to a great extent” and “has ceased to live under a proper interpretation of the Constitution of the United States”.
“Our founding fathers made it clear that states should be ready and willing to defend our liberties when the federal government abuses its authority. The convention of states is our vehicle to push back against the continued overreach from Washington, D.C. and I hope we will see other states join us as we work to rein in a federal government that has grown out of control,” said Burlison, R-Springfield.
Under Article V of the United States Constitution, two thirds of the states can come together to call a “convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states.”
Burlison’s legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
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