SC

South Carolina Lawmaker Proposes Article V Convention

A South Carolina lawmaker wants the Palmetto State to call a national convention – or an “Article V” convention – to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution that would limit the federal government’s power. S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor (R-Aiken) has pre-filed legislation in advance of the upcoming session of the…

A South Carolina lawmaker wants the Palmetto State to call a national convention – or an “Article V” convention – to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution that would limit the federal government’s power.

S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor (R-Aiken) has pre-filed legislation in advance of the upcoming session of the S.C. General Assembly to that end.

Taylor’s bill – H. 4372 – urges lawmakers to apply to the U.S. Congress for “a convention of the states restricted to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress.”

Taylor is referring to Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which requires Congress to convene a national convention upon receiving “the application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States.”

Or thirty-four states …

To date only one constitutional convention has ever been held in the United States – the one that produced the U.S. Constitution in 1787. States have come close to calling such conventions – including a balanced budget push that has twenty-five outstanding applications – but it’s never happened.

On several occasions Congress has amended the constitution in response to the threat of an Article V convention, though, including the establishment of the popular election of U.S. Senators and the repeal of prohibition.

Bill Taylor
TAYLOR

Taylor’s bill makes no bones about his rationale for seeking such a convention, noting that the federal government “has created a crushing national debt through improper and imprudent spending” and “has invaded the legitimate roles of the states through the manipulative process of federal mandate.”

He’ll get no argument from us on either count …

In a Facebook post Taylor said the issue “extends beyond the borders of South Carolina and focuses on the future of our great nation.”

“Will America continue its downward spiral or will it be course-corrected before it’s too late?” he wrote. “Today, both South Carolina and Virginia become the first two states to call for the Article V Convention for the express and sole purpose of limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.”

Interesting …

Personally we doubt an Article V convention will ever be called … but assuming one is, it’s doubtful the scope could be limited to any one issue.

More to the point: What’s the rationale behind changing the Constitution if the federal government is just going to turn around and ignore it again (like it ignores the existing document)?

Seriously … we think Taylor hasn’t developed a proper appreciation for the extent of America’s “downward spiral” (i.e. just how far the federal government has strayed from its constitutionally prescribed parameters).

If he had such an appreciation, we suspect he would be entertaining more radical measures … 

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24 comments

Fits Aint No Republican December 4, 2013 at 8:05 pm

Good move by a Right Winger to get a little attention from other Right Wingers.Got Fits attention and he aint even a Republican!

This has been proposed MANY times in the past.Has never happened and wont this time either.

Got a few minutes attention Taylor!Now go do something WORTHWHILE ,if you’ve ever thought of anything!

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SCBlueWoman December 4, 2013 at 8:24 pm

This is laughable. Truly.

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RampartV December 5, 2013 at 11:49 am

Exercise of a critical element of the US Constitution to reclaim state and local government authority from an out-of-control federal leviathon is “laughable…?” Do inform us plebeians, dear useful idiot.

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euwe max December 4, 2013 at 8:27 pm

Will America continue its downward spiral

——–
Only if the despicable Republicans cease their fawning over every word that comes out of Obama’s mouth. Hugging him on camera, shaking his hand, smiling in his general direction… not forcing him to take responsibility for Tea Party intransigence.

It’s disgraceful how they’ve bent over backwards to help him succeed in everything that he has proposed to do.

How can America pull out of its suicide dive, as long as these suffocating laws are being created by Congress?

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A face in the crowd December 4, 2013 at 8:30 pm

Another clown who has seen Gone with the Wind one too many times.

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Alberta December 4, 2013 at 8:31 pm

Well at least he is asking and other states may follow. Its always better to talk than use harsher method..

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Frank Pytel December 5, 2013 at 6:14 am

Unfortunately better and required do not necessarily have the same definition. But sometimes they do.

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CNSYD December 4, 2013 at 8:38 pm

How many of his 15 minutes does he have left?

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SPLC defined neo-confederate December 4, 2013 at 9:20 pm

Welp, at least he’s trying something. Fiscally, the country is already “gone”, it’s just a matter of time before it comes to fruition(and who knows how much time).

The bigger question is whether our masters in DC can survive a currency collapse and hold the states together at the same time. I hope not.

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Frank Pytel December 5, 2013 at 6:15 am

Very little.

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Salvatore Livreri, DMD December 5, 2013 at 10:14 pm

A Constitutional Convention is not the way to address this issue. I can
guarantee he is a pawn put up to get conservatives to scrap our
Constitution by initiating this Pandora’s Box. Since he is a
Republican, it must be OK, right?!?!? NOT. There is another way to get
an amendment passed. The same way the other 26 were passed, but not
via a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con). And, heck, Republicans
politicians do not pay attention to the current Constitution and its
Bill of Rights. Why would they pay attention to a new amendment?!?!
Wake up!

The following can provide the rationale against a Con-Con:

www DOT jbs DOT org/issues-pages/no-con-con

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Robert December 6, 2013 at 3:53 pm

Nice rant without any facts or specifics. Wow, I’m convinced

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Salvatore Livreri, DMD December 6, 2013 at 4:01 pm

Nice to meet you too Robert! Do you always start off with such complimentary sweet taking!

If you don’t believe my “rant”, I urge you to read what they have there, then weigh it against what you have already read elsewhere and finally come up with a determination as to what makes more sense. Or you can just throw out ad hominen attacks!

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GreenvilleLwyr December 4, 2013 at 9:36 pm

Good thing he is spending legislative time and energy on dealing with the important issues

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Frank Pytel December 5, 2013 at 6:13 am

It’s a very good thing

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Fred December 5, 2013 at 9:12 am

GreenvilleLwyer. This guy Taylor is just another of those “carpet bagger/tea bagger” from the NORTH! He makes a lot of noise and does very little. He has a rather dubious background as he claims he was a “media consultant” somewhere else before settleling here in North Aiken. He has done absolutely nothing in Aiken except shoot off his big mouth. He just loves to be in the Aiken’s media spotlight; whatever that means.

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Walter-White December 4, 2013 at 9:46 pm

He believes Rosa Parks ended racism.

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tomstickler December 4, 2013 at 9:54 pm

This would surely put the inmates in charge of the asylum.

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Robert December 6, 2013 at 3:58 pm

Tom,
The Constitution was created with one of these conventions. I would argue the idiots are already in charge of the asylum, how else can we have so much debt to paid off by future generations

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nitrat December 5, 2013 at 9:21 am

If these Red legislators in these Red states would start concentrating on the problems and issues in their states rather than concentrating on ALEC written bills that address national agenda and pointless political gestures, everyone would better off.
But, this is what happens when you elect idiots who run for the job to get the benefits.

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Manray December 5, 2013 at 11:06 am

Unfortunately, it seems all our elected officials, especially Repubs, do anymore is posture and pander to the cheap seats. Gotta get the “sound bite” on Fox News!

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Jesus H. Christ! December 5, 2013 at 12:53 pm

Sic Willie is too busy kicking down at fast food workers to give you the whole story here. Taylor is just taking marching orders from his pimps, the Kochs. http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/12/04/alec_ron_johnson_support_convention_of_states.html

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Penus Williams December 5, 2013 at 3:18 pm

Why do you republican voters keep electing these shitheads? Dammit people, is there not anyone in Aiken with something to contribute?

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Marc J December 7, 2013 at 1:03 pm

I like it

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