Harold Shurtleff

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Committee: I am unable to attend tomorrow's hearing. As I have stated a number of times at these hearings concerning an Article V Convention, such a convention cannot be limited to a single issue no matter what out of state lobbyists tell the committee. Article V makes no mention of conventions based on single issues. There are currently no laws governing an Article V Convention. We have no idea how the delegates will be chosen nor to we know who these delegates will be. Pro-Article V lobbyists tell committee members that a 3/4ths vote is needed by state legislatures to pass any proposed amendments, but the mode of ratification can be changed by delegates at a convention to state ratifying committees. Term limits is an amendment for the political lazy. It will do nothing to solve the problems of incumbency. And even if it did, it would take 15-20 years to have an impact. Nine states have rescinded their Article V resolutions including NY, MA, NJ, CA and Il.