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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 24, 2017 02:40 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Cris Dush |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Balanced Budget Amendment Article V Convention |
| Pennsylvania is one of 28 states that have successfully passed resolutions calling for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution. In 2010 there were only 16. It appears likely the 34 state threshold can be achieved in 2017. As a result, a Planning Convention is being called by the Tennessee General Assembly to be held in Nashville, beginning July 11, 2017 to set the rules for a convention for proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment. The United States Constitution provides for two methods of proposing amendments. Amendments may be proposed by Congress, or, alternatively, by a "Convention for proposing Amendments." Congress would be required to call a convention upon "application" by two-thirds of the states. If the balanced budget amendment is approved at the Convention, three-fourths of the state legislatures would need to ratify the amendment. In the near future, I intend to introduce a resolution to provide rules for all delegates from Pennsylvania to follow at a Balanced Budget Amendment Article V Convention as well as the Conference Convention. This legislation will establish the process for choosing the delegates, and will also include an oath to "uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." The delegates are also required to swear that they will not vote for any other proposed amendment other than the Balanced Budget Amendment to prevent any remote possibility of a "runaway convention." We are very close to calling a Balanced Budget Amendment Article V Convention. Please join me cosponsoring this important legislation. |
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Introduced as HR100