Revealing a trend among New Mexico’s counties, the Roosevelt County Commission officially adopted a resolution Tuesday, calling upon the New Mexico Legislature to petition for a convention of the states under Article V of the US Constitution. Roosevelt County became the fifth to adopt such a resolution, joining Hidalgo, Colfax, Otero, and Catron.
Several counties are considering similar actions to urge the New Mexico Legislature to call for a national amendments convention under Article V to consider fiscal restraint, federal overreach, and term limits, all of which congress refuses to address.
Reflecting on the on the federal government’s out of control spending and jurisdictional encroachment, Commissioner Rod Savage commented, “By this resolution calling upon the legislature to do the right thing, maybe we can have an impact for the betterment of our country.”
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 2/3 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).
19 state legislatures have so far joined in the call for an amendments convention, and several more are in consideration.
For more information on Article V and a convention of the states, go to https://conventionofstates.com
