Monday, April 27, 2015

Re: Middle Peninsula Tea Party concerns:

Sue and Others,
 
I feel it incumbent to respond to the claims made in Sue Long's email:
 

Claim: "You know full well the results if we lose our Constitution.  And, a constitutional convention would put it on the chopping block."

 

Truth: This is a false claim that panders to emotion. An Article 5 Convention has no power to "chop" anything, it only has the power provided it in Article 5, which is to propose amendments to the Constitution, which then must be ratified by 38 states.  As to the first sentence, I'm not sure I "know full well" the effect of "loosing" a Constitution that is being routinely ignored, as those opposed to a COS claim.

 

Claim: "And, after all, his vote affects not just…Virginia but all Americans."   

 

Truth:  Senator Norment's vote affects only Virginia's application for an Article 5 convention.  To suggest otherwise is blatant fearmongering and patently untrue.

 

Claim: "…in 2004 [Senator Norment] voted for a resolution that states:

"The operations of a convention are unknown and the apportionment and the selection of

delegates, method of voting in the convention, and other procedural details are not specified in Article V… the prudent course requires the General Assembly to rescind and withdraw all past applications for a convention to amend the Constitution …

 

Nothing has changed since then.  So why the flip flop?"

 

Truth: Everything has changed since 2004.  In 2004, the Convention of States Project had not yet been initiated.  The COS Project plan places limits on what types of amendments will be deemed in order at a convention: only amendments which serve to place fiscal restraints on the federal government, which reduce the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and/or which set limits on the terms of its officials.  Without these restrictions the convention delegates would be free to discuss and propose whatever amendments 51% of the delegations deem appropriate.  Nevertheless, such amendments would still require ratification by 38 states.  With these restriction, however, the 34 delegations associated with COS Project-compliant applications, which will constitute a super-majority, will determine whether a proposed amendment comports with the aforementioned goals and will be entered into the agenda.

 

It is important that both sides of this important issue be heard, discussed, and considered.  I am happy to debate this issue with anyone at anytime.

 

Gary Porter

 
 
 
 
In a message dated 4/27/2015 5:40:53 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, suesherrill8159329@gmail.com writes:
You know full well the results if we  lose our Constitution.  And, a constitutional convention would put it on the chopping block .
 
In Virginia, Senator Tommy Norment is key because he is the Senate Majority Whip.   He could be the deciding factor as to whether Virginia does or doesn't apply to Congress to call an Article V convention.   
 
So please contact him in opposition to a constitutional  convention, aka Article V convention, Convention of States, Balanced Budget Amendment  et al.
You don't have to be an authority.   Just print out one of the attached articles  and get it to him with a note asking him to consider the matter.   
 
VA Senator Tommy Norment's district covers Gloucester County (All); Hampton City (Part); Isle of
Wight County (Part); James City County (Part); King and Queen County (All); King William County
(All); New Kent County (All); Poquoson City (All); Suffolk City (Part); Surry County (Part); York County
(Part) but he is amenable to getting messages from those who just sign their name without their address.
And, after all, his vote affects not just only all in Virginia but all Americans.  
 
As a member of the Senate Rules Committee in 2015, he voted twice to pass constitutional convention bills out of committee instead of leaving them there to die.
One was for Mike Farris' Convention of States and one was for a Balanced Budget Amendment.
This was in spite of the fact that in 2004 he voted for a resolution that states:
"The operations of a convention are unknown and the apportionment and the selection of
delegates, method of voting in the convention, and other procedural details are not specified in
Article V… the prudent course requires the General Assembly to rescind and withdraw all past
applications for a convention to amend the Constitution …"
Nothing has changed since then. So why the flip flop?
 
His contact information is:
 
P.O. Box 6205
Williamsburg, VA 23188
 
Please let me know that you have contacted him so I won't be bugging you any more !
 
My most sincere thank you for helping to save our Constitution.  Sue Long

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