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
미국 주, 카운티 및 시 직원 연합(AFSCME)
AFSCME 협의회 3
AFSCME 협의회 67
AFSCME Maryland Retirees Chapter 1
ACE-AFSCME 로컬 2250
브레넌 센터 포 저스티스
예산 및 정책 우선순위 센터
워싱턴의 책임과 윤리를 위한 시민(CREW)
인간의 필요에 대한 연합
공통 원인
메릴랜드의 공통 원인
미국 통신 노동자 연합(CWA)
민주주의 21
장애인 권리 메릴랜드
Easterseals
Economic Policy Institute Policy Center
Homeless Persons Representation Project
메릴랜드 여성 유권자 연맹
미국 여성 유권자 연맹
메릴랜드 경제정책 센터
Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO
Maryland State Education Association
전국 사회복지사 협회
National Association of Social Workers – Maryland Chapter
전국 장애인 권리 네트워크
전국교육협회(NEA)
전국 WIC 협회
National Women’s Law Center
미국 방식을 위한 사람들
공공사법센터
Save Our Votes
서비스 직원 국제 연합 (SEIU)
SEIU 1199
SEIU Local 32BJ
SEIU Local 500
SiX Action
미국 아크
The Veterans Health Council
Vietnam Veterans of America
Women’s Law Center of Maryland, Inc.