The Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday approved by a 59 to 31 vote Senate Joint Resolution 67, an application for an Article V convention backed by Convention of States. The application calls for a convention for the purpose of enacting a federal balanced budget amendment, imposing term limits on members of Congress, and reducing federal regulations.
The following statements from constitutional reform experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Donald Kendal, new media specialist, The Heartland Institute, at [email protected] or 312/377-4000.
“Lawmakers in The Volunteer State today sent a loud and clear message to the ruling class in Washington, DC that they are not waiting for Congress to get its act together. Tennessee’s actions continue an unprecedented streak of momentum Convention of States has experienced since December. Other states should follow Tennessee’s lead by passing their own applications calling for a convention.
“Tennessee is now the fifth state to fully enact a resolution backed by Convention of States. This adds to increasing support through endorsements and victories in legislative chambers. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. presidential candidate Marco Rubio have endorsed Convention of States in the past month, while the Indiana Senate and New Mexico House have approved measures in the past week.”
Kyle Maichle
Project Manager, Constitutional Reform
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
312/377-4000
“Congratulations to Tennessee for standing up for rights and liberties of the American people and using the provisions of the Constitution the Founding Fathers put in it to protect those rights and liberties from modern-day tyrants and neo-fascists.”
Peter Ferrara
Senior Fellow
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
312/377-4000
“Congratulations to the citizens of the State of Tennessee on taking a major step in restoring constitutional government. Lawmakers in The Volunteer State have sent a clear message to Washington politicians that it is time get our country back on track.”
David Guldenschuh
Policy Adviser for Constitutional Reform
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
312/377-4000
“Just as the Constitution assures Americans their right to vote, speak freely, and run for office, so it also assures Americans the ability to control their federal government. A key part of the Constitution empowers the people, acting through their state legislatures, to enact further constitutional restraints on the Washington, D.C.
“The Tennessee legislature has now shown twice that it understands the opportunity – and the duty – the Constitution gives us: by applying in 2014 for a balanced budget convention and now following up with the Convention of States application.”
Rob Natelson
Director, Article V Information Center
The Independence Institute
Retired Law Professor
[email protected]
312/377-4000
The Heartland Institute is a 32-year-old national nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our Web site or call 312/377-4000.
Peter Ferrara, J.D., is a senior fellow at The Heartland Institute and an advisor for entitlement reform and budget policy at the National Tax Limitation Foundation.
David Guldenschuh is a leader in the nationwide movement of states to call a convention of states pursuant to Article V of the U.S.
