House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

Posted:	July 25, 2019 10:25 AM
From:	Representative Cris Dush
To:	All House members
Subject:	Balanced Budget Amendment Convention Delegate Rules of Conduct

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 the not-too-distant future. 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 what some see as the 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. Formerly HR 100
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