Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/19/2015 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission | |
| Alaska Public Offices Commission | |
| Commissioner, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities | |
| Lieutenant Governor Successor | |
| SJR15|| SCR4 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SJR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SCR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SJR 15-CALL FOR US COUNTERMAND CONVENTION
SCR 4-US COUNTERMAND CONVENTION DELEGATES
10:43:00 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE [announced that the last order of business would
be a hearing on both SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 15, Making
application to the United States Congress to call a convention
of the states to propose a countermand amendment to the
Constitution of the United States as provided under art. V,
Constitution of the United States; and urging the legislatures
of the other 49 states to make the same application; and SENATE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4, Relating to the duties of delegates
selected by the legislature to attend a convention of the states
called under art. V, Constitution of the United States, to
consider a countermand amendment to the Constitution of the
United States; establishing as a joint committee of the
legislature the Delegate Credential Committee and relating to
the duties of the committee; providing for an oath for delegates
and alternates to a countermand amendment convention; providing
for a chair and assistant chair of the state's countermand
amendment delegation; providing for the duties of the chair and
assistant chair; providing instructions for the selection of a
convention president; and providing specific language for the
countermand amendment on which the state's convention delegates
are authorized by the legislature to vote to approve].
10:43:49 AM
CHARLES KACPROWICZ, Executive Director, Citizen Initiatives,
indicated that his organization has been promoting the
advancement of legislation [such as SJR 15 and SCR 4 - together
addressing an application by the State of Alaska] to pursue a
constitutional convention under powers granted by Article V of
the Constitution of the United States - in several states for
the purpose of getting what he called a "countermand amendment"
added to the Constitution of the United States; and offered his
understanding that there are "eighteen states with sponsors,"
and that nine states have either filed or are in the process
filing [such legislation]. He expressed his hope that [if such
legislation passes, and a constitutional convention addressing
the proposed countermand amendment is convened, and ratification
of the proposed change to the Constitution of the United States
occurs, then] states in disagreement with particular federal
laws could start seeking repeal/nullification of those laws by
late 2016. He offered his beliefs that it is Article V of the
Constitution of the United States itself that would prohibit
such a constitutional convention from addressing anything other
than amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and
that a countermand amendment to the Constitution of the United
States offers legislatures the best hope of restoring what he
called, "our constitutional republic."
MR. KACPROWICZ offered his understanding that should such a
countermand amendment to the Constitution of the United States
be ratified, then any 30 states could seek to nullify any
federal law - including those engendered by United States
Supreme Court rulings - or any constitutional right, whether
enumerated or not; and that any such nullification would be in
effect immediately. In conclusion, he offered his belief that
ratification of a countermand amendment to the Constitution of
the United States would create a balance of power between the
states and the federal government, and that there would be no
limit to how the countermand amendment could be applied as long
as 30 states agreed to the particular application of it.
10:52:28 AM
MIKE COONS, National and State Director, Citizen Initiatives,
referencing some federal laws as example, offered his belief
that if a countermand amendment to the Constitution of the
United States [such as that proposed via SJR 15 and SCR 4] is
ratified, any federal law that is nullified by the states could
simply be rewritten by Congress to better comport with what the
states that nullified it want.
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that SJR 15 and SCR 4 would be held in
committee.