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
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Konseho ng AFSCME 3
Konseho ng AFSCME 67
AFSCME Maryland Retirees Chapter 1
ACE-AFSCME Local 2250
Brennan Center para sa Katarungan
Sentro sa Badyet at Mga Priyoridad sa Patakaran
Mga Mamamayan para sa Pananagutan at Etika sa Washington (CREW)
Koalisyon sa Pangangailangan ng Tao
Karaniwang Dahilan
Karaniwang Dahilan Maryland
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Demokrasya 21
Mga Karapatan sa Kapansanan Maryland
Easterseals
Economic Policy Institute Policy Center
Homeless Persons Representation Project
Liga ng mga Babaeng Botante ng Maryland
Liga ng mga Babaeng Botante ng Estados Unidos
Maryland Center on Economic Policy
Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO
Maryland State Education Association
Pambansang Samahan ng mga Manggagawang Panlipunan
National Association of Social Workers – Maryland Chapter
National Disability Rights Network
National Education Association (NEA)
Pambansang WIC Association
National Women’s Law Center
Mga Tao Para sa Paraang Amerikano
Public Justice Center
Save Our Votes
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
SEIU 1199
SEIU Local 32BJ
SEIU Local 500
SiX Action
Ang Arc ng Estados Unidos
The Veterans Health Council
Vietnam Veterans of America
Women’s Law Center of Maryland, Inc.