No Con Con for Georgia Republicans

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, June 8, 2012
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. All nine of Georgia’s past calls for a constitutional convention were rescinded in 2004, but it’s still an issue in every state, including ours. Last session Georgia had two calls for a con con – one in the Senate and one in the House. If either had passed, Georgia would have been the 19th state asking for a con con for a balanced budget amendment. If two-thirds of the 50 (34) states pass a resolution on the same subject, Congress would have to call a con con before January 1, 2020.

On May 19th, a resolution opposing a con con was introduced at the Georgia Republican Convention and will be considered by the full resolutions committee prior to the Republican National Convention in Tampa. This resolution must pass to signal Georgia’s intention to protect the Constitution of the United States, the foundational document of U.S. government, which is NOT a democracy, but a representative republic. This is so important that each candidate for the General Assembly should promise to vote against a constitutional convention at every opportunity.

Article V of the U.S. Constitution authorizes a con con, but it’s silent on details. With no rules of order, no delegate qualifications and no restriction on the agenda, there’s no guarantee a balanced budget amendment would be produced, even if a con con were convened for that express purpose.

That brings up another danger. Since the Constitution sets no limits, once a con con is convened, the document that produced the best and most productive nation in the history of the world could be destroyed by international pressure, as well as forces within this country. It’s a well-known fact that Democrat members of Congress are already advocating for a con con to introduce multiple amendments to accomplish their liberal agenda.

The U.S. Constitution is a timeless document. It limited the powers of government and guaranteed freedom and opportunity for citizens, while producing the best and most productive nation in the history of the world.

Explain this to the candidates: The Georgia Republican Convention strongly opposes the convening of a constitutional convention, because the risk of loss far exceeds the possibility of gain from such an uncontrolled and uncontrollable proceeding. Then, ask each candidate to pledge to vote NO on a con con . It will, surely, be introduced next session and the next and the next. It must be defeated every time. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.