March 2021 Newsletter

ACTION NEEDED! Con Con Bills Passed Senate!

S.R. 28 Requests Congress to Call Article V Constitutional Convention introduced January 28th by Senator Bill Cowsert would (a) limit terms for Representatives in the U.S. House and U.S. Senators. (b) It claims continuing application status until at least two-thirds of the 50 states apply on the same subject. It (c) suggests that Article V Constitutional Conventions can be limited by legislation. However, this bill, inadvertently, indicates otherwise with the latter part of this statement: “the General Assembly of Georgia insists that the convention be solely limited to strict consideration of the subject matter contained in this resolution and that the U.S. Congress enact a severe criminal penalty for persons who violate the finite scope of the call.” The underlined words indicate the probability that con con delegates may stray into other issues. It passed the Senate 34-20 on February 22nd and went to the House Rules Committee.

ACTION – Oppose. Since the Rules Committee has 37 members, please call Representatives Richard Smith Ch., 656-5141; V-Ch., Hatchett, 656-5025; Jasperse, Sec., 656-7153; Democrats Beverly, 656-5058; Drenner, 656-0202, and Holcomb, 656-6372, plus Republicans Ballinger, 656-7153; Kelley, 656-5024; and Carson, 656-7855.

S.R. 29 Application for an Article V Convention of States (COS) introduced January 28th by Senator Ben Cowsert requests that Congress pass a COS limited to passing a balanced budget amendment. The Senate passed it 34-20 February 22nd and it‟s in the House Rules Committee. The explanation of S.R. 28 also pertains to S.R. 29, which passed the Senate 34-20 on February 22nd, as well. Both S.R. 28 and S. R. 29 are in the House Rules Committee.

ACTION – Oppose. The Rules Committee has 37 members, please call the few members listed above under S.R. 28.

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March 17, 2017 Radio Commentary

Stop S.R. 195

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, March 17, 2017 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

S.R. 195 urging Congress to call a constitutional convention is an extremely dangerous bill that must be stopped. If two-thirds of the 50 states enact similar resolutions and Congress convenes a convention, the entire Constitution would be in jeopardy.

ACTION: Call 404 656-5020 and ask House Speaker Ralston to keep S.R. 195 off the House floor; Call 636-5141 and ask Rules Chairman Meadows to keep S.R. 195 in his committee. Ask the following to withdraw support from S.R. 195: Representatives Brockway 656-0188; Barr, 656-0325; Cantrell, 656-0152; Clark, 656-0298; and Hilton, 656-0202.

Talking points: A convention could write its own rules and set its own agenda, which could be influenced by powerful special interest groups. Delegates could change the ratification process, and nobody, including the Courts, has clear authority over the convention once it begins.

Article V does not restrict a convention to only one issue. A two-thirds vote, that’s required in Congress, is not required of convention delegates. Article V does not require delegates to be U.S. citizens or citizens of a state in the United States. Article V does not say who will preside, or what rules will be followed. If Congress can’t limit a convention, states can’t limit it either. Continue reading

May 2014 Newsletter

SCADPads: Preparing US for Third-World Housing?

135 Square-Feet Homes Fit In 8 x 16 Parking Spot
Putting SCADPads to a test this month in Atlanta are a dozen students, including a male design for sustainability student who said, “I want to live in a parking garage
because there are so many out there that can be reused and re-purposed.”

Garage Becomes Eco-Friendly Village/Community
Georgia Power says SCAD participation in its Commercial Energy Efficiency Program resulted in a $245,466 rebate for eco-friendly practices. 41 SCAD buildings incorporating energy efficient upgrades saved 614,570 Kwh of electricity, enough to take 51 homes off the grid for a year.

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) explained that students designed and developed SCADPads for use by families who will be pressured to move from spacious rural settlements into cities. A micro-housing display of three tiny homes, sits atop the SCAD building parking deck at 1600 Peachtree Street. Wheels on the units are hidden to conceal their identity as mini-mobile homes. The Atlanta display is from April 12 through June 1. It may go to Houston next.

Spurred by the World Health Organization’s projection that cities will house 60 percent of the population by 2030, SCAD’s program coordinator Scott Boylston explained, “If you look at where parking garages are located in cities, they’re usually centrally located. There are usually many, many floors, so they provide an amazing view. It really transforms the way we see neighborhoods. The idea (sic) that the garage becomes a village — a community.

Picture this. A grown man standing with out-stretched arms can almost touch the side walls and ceiling in the 135 square-foot space, which includes a bed, sitting area, bathroom with toilet, shower and sink, and kitchen with a refrigerator and freezer hidden inside cabinet drawers. There’s no room for hanging space, so clothes are folded and stored in drawers. Urging folks to get used to it, SCAD Dean Steven Aishman commented, “They are practical, reusable, and they’re able to address the idea of urban living.”

They’re okay for students, but inadequate for family life.

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March 28, 2014 Radio Commentary

Fiddlin’ With the Constitution

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, March 28, 2014 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. Something’s going on with all the calls for an Article V convention of the states – the latest label for a constitutional convention. According to leaders of the movement, an Article V convention would be called for only one purpose – to pass a balanced budget amendment – but don’t you believe it.

On March 6th of this year, the General Assembly passed S.R. 736 calling for a convention for three purposes – fiscal restraints on the federal government, limited power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limited terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. While a balanced budget might be among the fiscal restraints, it is NOT mentioned and might NOT be included. So, S.R. 736 is requesting a convention to consider constitutional amendments in three areas that, most likely, would require many MORE than three amendments to get the job done.

On February 20th of this year, S.R. 371 passed, calling for a convention to pass an amendment to prohibit Congress from appropriating more money than is expected to be collected in federal taxes for that fiscal year. That may lean toward balancing the budget, but it does not mandate a balanced budget and it does not mention the deficit or the interest that must be paid on all that borrowed money. So, while Congress has liberty to spend as much money as received each year, there’s no provision for a “rainy day fund;” the deficit isn’t addressed at all; and the debt remains. Continue reading