CON-CON: It's a con, alright

It looks like here we go again in the Legislature. I was so pleased that the Legislature rejected the Constitutional Convention last year; but some have not taken no for an answer. I had hoped Idaho would lead the way to rejection of what is, in my opinion, a Con-Con con; an opinion shared by other people much more expert on the U.S. Constitution article 5 than I am.

Two things are going on right now; namely a push for a convention of states to bypass Congress to create a Constitutional Convention. That is not possible. The states have no such power. Only Congress can call a Constitutional Convention; hence the name Con-Con con.

The other thing is to dictate the terms of the said convention. That is where the real danger comes in. Once a Constitutional Convention is convened by Congress, they answer to absolutely nobody. They become a virtually untouchable federal agency. No preconceived instructions, restrictions, agendas are valid. Also, article 5 provides no qualifications for delegates to the convention. Anyone could be appointed including convicted felons, foreign persons of any age, how many from each state, number of votes each state and an agenda with provisions to expel any violators of that agenda.

BEFORE a Constitutional Convention is called for, Congress measures to assure no runaway convention can happen. Anything less could lead to the destruction of our Constitution. For more info see the website for retired constitutional lawyer Publius Huldah of Tennessee.

C.M. VOGELSONG

Riggins