In its meeting Tuesday, the Otero County Commission became the third county in a month to adopt a resolution urging the state legislators of the United States to exercise their authority to call for an amendments convention under Article V of the United States Constitution, following Hidalgo and Colfax Counties
Public lands concerns, over-regulation and unfunded mandates were among the federally imposed issues that led to the Commission’s unanimous vote calling upon the New Mexico Legislature to address fiscal restraint, limitations on federal jurisdiction and power, and term limits on federal officials.
It was acknowledged during the meeting that the federal annual budget deficit is growing to more than a trillion dollars in 2024, while the exploding $34.8 trillion national debt is accruing interest at the rate of $1 billion each day. The Commission asserted the NM legislature has the authority to do something about it, and it is time for them to rise to the occasion in a bi-partisan action.
Article V of the U.S. Constitution prescribes two methods for proposing amendments: (1) Congress by two thirds of both chambers, or (2) the Legislatures of two thirds of the states by calling a convention of all 50 states. In both cases, any proposed amendments coming out of the process would require ratification by 3/4 of the states (38).
According to Robert Gable of Convention of States New Mexico, “19 of the required 34 states have already passed resolutions calling for a convention of the states, and legislation is pending in several more.”
For more information on Article V and the convention of states, go to https://conventionofstates.com
