URGENT: The Utah Legislature’s Executive Appropriations Committee will meet for the last time this session today at 4:10 pm Mountain Time. Thankfully, funding for the Phoenix Correspondence Commission (PCC) has not been appropriated, but it’s still possible that such funding could be added to the budget. The hearing will take place in Room 445 of the State Capitol, and members of the public can participate remotely. Please contact your state legislators, and urge them to block funding for the PCC.
Members of the Utah State Legislature are seeking to appropriate taxpayer funds to change the U.S. Constitution.
Representative Kay Christofferson (R-Lehi) submitted a request to provide $50,000 annually to the Phoenix Correspondence Commission (PCC), an entity created by several states for the purpose of giving legislators false assurance that a convention won’t get out of control, and to lay the groundwork for an Article V constitutional convention. Rep. Christofferson’s request has been given “priority” consideration by the Legislature.
The PCC is connected to several individuals and organizations working for a constitutional convention to change the U.S. Constitution.
Taxpayer money should not go toward the effort to change the U.S. Constitution. An Article V convention possesses the inherent power to propose any changes to the U.S. Constitution, including drafting and proposing an entirely new “modern” (i.e. socialist) constitution with its own mode of ratification.
Instead of funding the effort for a convention, the Utah Legislature should consider Article VI and nullify unconstitutional laws.
Any Article V convention, no matter how well intentioned, is likely to devolve into a runaway convention that would reverse many of the Constitution’s limitations on government power and interference. In other words, a Con-Con could accomplish the same goals that many of its advocates claim to be fighting against. As evidence, both a 2016 and 2023 simulated “Convention of States” resulted in amendments massively increasing the federal government and expanding its spending powers.
The late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia understood the danger of a constitutional convention. In 2015, he reiterated his opposition to an Article V convention, stating “this is not a good century to write a constitution.” Furthermore, what kind of delegates would Utah send to such a convention? Constitutionalist conservatives or RINO moderates and liberals?
Furthermore, state lawmakers should also consider rescinding any and all previously passed Article V convention applications to Congress, regardless of the desired amendment(s). Passing rescission resolutions will help prevent aggregating past Article V convention applications with those from other states to force Congress to call a convention.
Above all, urge your state representative and senator to block any funding for the PCC, and to oppose any resolutions applying to Congress for an Article V convention.
Although we provide a way to easily email legislators, we know from long experience that it takes a lot more interaction with your legislators to get your point across than that provided by emails alone.
That's why we provide an easy way not only to email them, but to contact them by phone, tweet, and even video message them.
