The call to rescind Maryland’s application for a dangerous Article V convention is gaining new momentum and support from legislative leaders, grassroots organizations, and constitutional rights and democracy reform groups. 

Just a week after Maryland’s Democratic leadership included the rescission resolutions (HJ2/SJ2) in their priority package of bills, a coalition of 40 national and state organizations sent a letter to the state legislative leadership urging the state legislature take immediate action to rescind the state’s calls for an Article V constitutional convention. The letter thanks legislators, including Senator Madaleno and Delegate Frick, for their leadership on HJ2/SJ2, which would rescind Maryland’s call for an Article V Convention.

“Time is past due to rectify Maryland’s mistakes and rescind these calls for a constitutional convention, which would put everyone’s rights up for grabs,” said Jennifer Bevan-Dangel, executive director of Common Cause Maryland. “We are glad legislative leaders are prioritizing the rescission effort in order to protect all Marylanders and Americans’ civil rights and liberties.”

“Marylanders can’t let wealthy special interest groups rewrite our Constitution,” said Bevan-Dangel. “A constitutional convention is a dangerous threat to everyone, and the Maryland legislature must take action to help stop it.”

Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, a convention can be called when two-thirds of the states (34) petition for a convention to enact amendments to the constitution. Conservative and balanced budget amendment advocates claim that 28 states, including Maryland, have active applications to call an Article V convention to enact a federal balanced budget amendment, leaving them just six states short of reaching their goal. There are no safeguards or guidelines in the U.S. Constitution that limit a convention to one issue or govern the rules of a convention, which makes the threat of a runaway convention very real.

Read the coalition letter here.

The groups who signed the letter are:

American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland
Amerikanischer Verband der Staats-, Bezirks- und Kommunalangestellten (AFSCME)
AFSCME Rat 3
AFSCME-Rat 67
AFSCME Maryland Retirees Chapter 1
ACE-AFSCME Lokal 2250
Brennan Zentrum für Gerechtigkeit
Zentrum für Budget und politische Prioritäten
Bürger für Verantwortung und Ethik in Washington (CREW)
Koalition für menschliche Bedürfnisse
Gemeinsame Ursache
Gemeinsame Sache, Maryland
Kommunikationsarbeiter von Amerika (CWA)
Demokratie 21
Behindertenrechte Maryland
Easterseals
Economic Policy Institute Policy Center
Homeless Persons Representation Project
Liga der Wählerinnen von Maryland
Liga der Wählerinnen der Vereinigten Staaten
Maryland-Zentrum für Wirtschaftspolitik
Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO
Maryland State Education Association
Nationaler Verband der Sozialarbeiter
National Association of Social Workers – Maryland Chapter
Nationales Netzwerk für Behindertenrechte
Nationale Bildungsvereinigung (NEA)
Nationale WIC-Vereinigung
National Women’s Law Center
Menschen für den amerikanischen Weg
Zentrum für öffentliche Justiz
Save Our Votes
Internationale Gewerkschaft der Dienstleistungsangestellten (SEIU)
SEIU 1199
SEIU Local 32BJ
SEIU Local 500
SiX Action
Der Bogen der Vereinigten Staaten
The Veterans Health Council
Vietnam Veterans of America
Women’s Law Center of Maryland, Inc.