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
Американская федерация государственных, окружных и муниципальных служащих (AFSCME)
Совет AFSCME 3
Совет AFSCME 67
AFSCME Maryland Retirees Chapter 1
ACE-AFSCME Локальный 2250
Центр Бреннана по вопросам правосудия
Центр по бюджету и политическим приоритетам
Граждане за ответственность и этику в Вашингтоне (CREW)
Коалиция по нуждам человека
Общее Дело
Общее дело Мэриленд
Работники связи Америки (CWA)
Демократия 21
Права инвалидов в Мэриленде
Easterseals
Economic Policy Institute Policy Center
Homeless Persons Representation Project
Лига женщин-избирательниц Мэриленда
Лига женщин-избирательниц США
Мэрилендский центр экономической политики
Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO
Maryland State Education Association
Национальная ассоциация социальных работников
National Association of Social Workers – Maryland Chapter
Национальная сеть по правам инвалидов
Национальная ассоциация образования (NEA)
Национальная ассоциация WIC
National Women’s Law Center
Люди за американский путь
Центр общественного правосудия
Save Our Votes
Международный профсоюз работников сферы обслуживания (SEIU)
SEIU 1199
SEIU Local 32BJ
SEIU Local 500
SiX Action
Дуга Соединенных Штатов
The Veterans Health Council
Vietnam Veterans of America
Women’s Law Center of Maryland, Inc.