Story by David Beard, The Dominion Post
Charleston, W.V.
Brandon steel
The debate was sprinkled with rock and pop song quotes and frequent chakli. But there was also a new twist, and the discussion took a serious turn in the end.
HCR 57 demands Congress calls and article V convention, “proposing amendment to the Constitution of the United States to create fiscal responsibility within and within the federal government.”
Committee advocate Brian Casto adopted the perfect Legislature in 2022 to the entire Legislature, which included a fiscal responsibility element with the Congress period limit and limited the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.
So for this one, he said, “In this sense it is somewhat duplicate, but it is a belt and suspension. If you adopt it, you say in the words of the great Johnny, ‘We mean, man.’
There were questions on whether a fruitless request would be reverse. Casto said that this is really for the Congress, but there is no harm in trying.
HCR 57 also asked the state to join other states to file a law suit to work for the Congress. Asked who would do for West Virginia, Casto said it would fall to the Attorney General.
Bill rednahore
Delegate Brandon Steel for the twist Congress came as amendment by R-Railley, to consider and propose an amendment to cancel the 16th amendment for the Congress, which authorized the federal income tax and confirmed in 1913.
Steel offered the next song (almost) quotes: “As Olivia Newton John once said,” Let’s receive fiscal. “
Steel said that tax was originally 1% tax at the richest 1%, but it is a balloon. “Our components are on the bill.”
He later said that when the federal government started taking income tax, the state lost its identity. “When we became equal. … The wealth and work product of everyday citizen was taken and resurved was how some rich people wanted to the north of Richmond. ,
And the next song reference: With this extra for resolution, the judiciary is “the first elected body in the nation to be angry against the machine:” Take back power. ” This is the best in the hands of our citizens, not bureaucrats. ,
Lead sponsor representative Bill Ridenore, R-Jefferson, considered steel amendment for the moment, then said, “Hell, with it, lets it go for it.”
It was approved in a 21–0 roll call vote, after which there was a lot of laughter.
Ridenour also proposed an amendment while strikeing the word “almost” from this sentence: “While the national loan has increased from $ 850 billion to about $ 34 trillion today.”
He said that the loan is now more than $ 34.4 trillion. “The faster we are dancing, the faster you cannot reach the moon in a few minutes.”
It was unanimously approved in voice vote.
Lary kump
The tone became more serious when the discussion was shifted to approve the revised resolution.
Delegate Larry Kump, R-Barkle said, “I agree that our fiscal state in this country is both fatal and necessary,” but Sankalp added nothing to HCR 31 of 2022. But the steel amendment gave it new relevance.
Delegate Brian Ward, R-Hardi, gave full support to the whole thing. “We are leaving no opportunity for our next generations for hope. We are worried about our Republic and that is what we can do. ,
In previous years, the debate on Article V conferences has been weighed with anxest on the possibility of a fugitive conference, where representatives ignore the call and what they do, which they please, perhaps at the point of scrapping the entire constitution.
The main example of that has always been quoted, which is a 1787 conference to amend the articles of the Confederation, which was secretly held and led as a whole new constitution and government.
This time it was not long, just a few questions about it from Delegate Ivan Hansen, D-Monongalia. For one, the resolution sometimes says “modification” and other time “modification”.
Casto suggested that different words could make an allowance for the possibility of more than one modification to meet single objective. In addition, the amendment “will be especially about fiscal responsibility.”
In the roll call vote to adopt the resolution, Hansen offered the only opposing vote. It goes next to the whole house. Because it is an concurrent resolution, it will also have to go to the Senate for the final adoption.
Article V of the US Constitution establishes two ways to amend the Constitution. First, two-thirds of the two houses of the Congress can propose amendment. Second, two-thirds out of 50 states (34) can apply to call a conference of states to propose amendments to the Congress. HCR 57 takes the second approach.