State Senate approves joint resolutions calling for constitutional amendments via Article V process

Senate approves joint resolutions calling for constitutional amendments

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 21st) – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has won approval for two measures that call for amending the U.S. Constitution. Bergstrom is the Senate principal author of House Joint Resolution 1017 and HJR 1032, which were approved by the full Senate Thursday.

“Since Washington D.C. doesn’t know how to balance a budget or understand that all powers not granted by the U.S. Constitution to the federal government are reserved to the states, the Oklahoma Legislature is stepping up with resolutions to help change that,” Bergstrom said.

HJR 1032 submits an official application to Congress to call an Article V Convention of the States to establish congressional term limits. For the convention to be held, 34 states must call for it. For the limits to be imposed, 38 states must vote in favor of the amendment.

“Americans, and especially Oklahomans, are fed up with career politicians on Capitol Hill. Recent polls show that more than 80 percent of voters support term limits for members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives,” Bergstrom said.

Nearly 70 percent of Oklahomans voted in favor of legislative term limits on state legislators in 1990. State legislators can serve a maximum of 12 years in either the House or Senate, or a combination of service in both chambers.

“We have seen bipartisan support from citizens across the state who believe Congress should face similar limits,” Bergstrom said.

HJR 1017 is the reauthorization of a delegation of commissioners to participate in a gathering of states to serve at an Article V Convention of States that might be called to deal with a single balanced budget amendment, or a combination of amendments to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, impose fiscal restraints, and place term limits on federal officials. The existing authorization expires at the end of the year.

“The runaway spending in Washington has consequences. Too many to list, but one day there will be a reckoning and it will be our children, our grandchildren and our economy that will pay the price,” Bergstrom said. “For too long D.C. bureaucrats, legislators and presidents have been chopping away at the powers reserved to the states and their citizens. A Convention of States, which is limited in scope like this, can provide a way to get our nation back on the right track in these areas.”

“I am proud to echo the voice of Oklahomans and continue fighting for an end to career politics. I appreciate my colleagues in the Senate and House counterparts who have supported these measures and voted to adopt them this session. I hope more states will join us in ensuring the federal government is of the people, by the people, and for the people,” Bergstrom said.