Two state legislative resolutions calling for a national constitutional convention got a hearing Monday in Frankfort. Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Chair Kenny Imes told the packed room no vote would come this session, but the issue would be studied over the next year.
Bowling Green Representative Jim DeCesare’s resolution contains balanced budget and state’s rights language.
“I know we have a lot of people that say we’ll have a runaway constitution and this is just opening the door for the current president and legislators to re-write our constitution," DeCesare said. "Well, that’s not the case, because our current constitution is pretty strong.”
Speaking with an opposing viewpoint was University of Louisville Law Professor Sam Marcosson. He argued neither the state legislatures nor congress could limit anything that a constitutional convention and its delegates want to propose.
It takes 34 states submitting applications to Congress for a convention to be held. Thus far, requests have come from 29 states.
