Title: Spring 2017 Newsletter Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/files/spring-2017-newsletter-1|spring-2017-newsletter-1]] Login Required to view? No Attached File: Spring_2017_Donor_Newsletter_3.0_A.pdf Spring 2017 Newslette Created: 2017-08-24 17:08:33 Updated: 2019-11-24 19:00:00 Published: 2017-08-23 14:00:00 Converted: 2025-04-14T19:24:52.436335918 ---- {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto001.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}}                        A quarterly newsletter from www.cosaction.com      Issue #4      Spring 2017 **WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN.** //Our volunteer army realized // //amazing successes this year, es-\\ pecially in Arizona, Texas, North \\ Dakota, and Missouri, where the \\ state legislatures officially passed \\ the Convention of States resolu-\\ tion. To help tell the story from \\ each state, we asked members of \\ each state team to recount from \\ their perspective how the battle \\ was won.// **Texas\\ **//By Tamara Colbert, Texas Co-\\ State Director// In a massive show of force against \\ the growing federal administra-\\ tive state, the Texas legislature and \\ the COS Texas grassroots demon-\\ strated the power of the possible \\ when citizens and legislators work \\ together. The passing of the Convention of \\ States resolution (SJR 2) was not a \\ slam-dunk. The 125,000 COS Texas \\ activists worked for more than three \\ years to conduct over 400 meetings \\ around the state in an effort to edu-\\ cate citizens and legislators about \\ the Article V process. Their goal \\ was to communicate the awesome \\ power Article V gives to the “united \\ states” to stand up to an overreach-\\ ing federal government. After a “contingency” clause, re-\\ ferred to as a “poison pill,” was \\ added by the House Committee \\ in April, grassroots activists kept \\ up the pressure on legislators to \\ “#AMEND&RESTORE” SJR2 to the \\ original version passed by the Sen-\\ ate on February 28th.  House sponsor, Rep. Miller, along \\ with over 80 co-authors, orches-\\ trated an amendment to restore the \\ resolution, which was passed by a 2 \\ to 1 margin, enabling the final floor \\ vote on the clean version of the res-\\ olution. Hundreds of COS activists, \\ representing 81 Texas House Dis-\\ tricts, watched from the gallery dur-\\ ing the final vote.  {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto002.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}} **2 Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter                                                                                                                           Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter 3** the states.  It is with these acts that \\ we secure one of our most sacred \\ rights - individual liberty for all. **MISSOURI\\ **//By Keith Carmichael, \\ Missouri State Director// For the last three years, grassroots \\ volunteers in The Show-Me State \\ have worked with legislators in \\ both the Missouri House and Sen-\\ ate to pass Missouri’s Convention of \\ States resolution.  The resolution passed in both cham-\\ bers but never in the same year—\\ until now. This year, Missouri passed the COS \\ resolution in both chambers dur-\\ ing the same session, becoming \\ the 12th state to call for an Article V \\ convention with an application that \\ is in full agreement with the previ-\\ ous eleven states. Missouri volunteers came to their \\ state capitol over and over to devel-\\ op relationships with and to educate \\ their legislators. They kept up the \\ pressure and the House leadership \\ remained true to their word – even \\ though they waited until the last \\ hour of the last day of the session. The grassroots volunteers from ev-\\ ery corner of the state made all the \\ difference. Their hard work will help \\ ensure a bright future for genera-\\ tions to come and allow the states \\ to fulfill their obligation to ‘oversee’ \\ the federal government using the \\ Founders’ tool to preserve liberty in \\ our great nation. //**The grassroots are **// //**alive and well!**// Supporters know the federal gov-\\ ernment will never limit its power—\\ the lack of will to fully repeal Obam-\\ acare demonstrates this fact. The \\ solutions for fixing the nation must \\ come from the States, not inside the \\ beltway. **ARIZONA\\ **//By Michael J. Alexander, \\ Arizona State Information \\ Analyst// The Convention of States resolu-\\ tion in Arizona flew through its first \\ House committee and passed the \\ House floor with a 31-27 vote. The difficulty began in the Senate, \\ where our resolution initially failed \\ 13-17. Fortunately, prime sponsor \\ Kavanagh strategically cast the last \\ “Nay” vote to allow for a “motion to \\ reconsider.” This is when the grassroots kicked \\ their efforts into high gear. District \\ Captains from Arizona joined forc-\\ es with the national Convention of \\ States legislative strategy team to \\ target the three hostile GOP sena-\\ tors with phone calls, emails, and \\ social media appeals from AZ resi-\\ dents. The AZ team hoped to flip \\ at least two of the Senate votes to \\ reach the necessary 16 to win back \\ a majority vote.  Coincidentally, the Texas State Sen-\\ ate was debating their resolution \\ during this same time frame, and \\ a number of video clips were pro-\\ vided to our team, specifically of the \\ robust and eloquent defense of the \\ Texas resolution, SJR2, offered by \\ their Senator Birdwell. It was felt at the time that if these \\ clips of the Texas Senate debate \\ were shared with our own reluctant \\ Arizona senators and framed as a \\ message “from one senator to an- other,” that watching and listening \\ to a colleague soundly refute the \\ very arguments that they were rely-\\ ing upon to justify their resistance \\ might soften their resolve. The strategy worked. Three weeks \\ after the losing vote, the Senate \\ passed the Convention of States \\ resolution 16-14, making Arizona \\ the 9th state to call for an Article V \\ Convention of States. **NORTH ** **DAKOTA\\ **//By Jeremy Neuharth, \\ North Dakota State Information \\ Analyst// North Dakota was all-in from the get \\ go. Passing the Convention of States \\ resolution took a great deal of work \\ from thousands of dedicated vol-\\ unteers, but we also enjoyed great \\ support from state senators and \\ representatives. We started in the House, where Rep. \\ Jim Kasper was our primary spon-\\ sor. We sailed through the Govern-\\ ment and Veterans Affairs Commit-\\ tee, and the full House passed the \\ resolution with an overwhelmingly \\ positive 69-18 vote. The Senate was even more excited \\ about our resolution. We passed our \\ committee with a unanimous 6-0 \\ vote, and the full Senate didn’t even \\ bother to tally up the votes -- we \\ passed on a voice vote. I’m proud to be a North Dakotan, \\ and I’m proud to stand with so many \\ amazing volunteers and legislators. \\ We are part of the solution.   Our legislature took the bold step, \\ using the tools provided by the \\ Founders in the Constitution, to re-\\ store the balance of power back to  {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto003.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}} **2 Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter                                                                                                                           Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter 3** by a federal agency. While his col-\\ leagues in Congress were working to \\ get reelected, DeMint faithfully fought \\ to uphold his pledge to defend the \\ Constitution. “I’ve spent my career fighting against \\ the same radical statist coalition that \\ has aligned itself against the Conven-\\ tion of States Project,” DeMint said. \\ “I’m excited to get outside the belt-\\ way and work with the grassroots to \\ continue that fight. Through Article V, \\ the people and the states have more \\ power than I ever did in D.C. I can’t \\ wait to come alongside the COS state \\ teams, offer my support, and watch \\ what these citizen activists can accom-\\ plish.” To those few sincere Americans who \\ still fear the Article V process, DeMint \\ had this to say:  “I understand there are those who be-\\ lieve electing more ‘good’ leaders to \\ D.C. will solve our nation’s problems. \\ Take it from me: it won’t. The few who \\ fight for the people will always be \\ overwhelmed by the deep state bu-\\ reaucrats, the statist congressmen, \\ and the activist judges.” “Only a Convention of States can truly \\ limit the power and jurisdiction of the \\ federal government, and I’m thrilled \\ to be a small part of this historic move-\\ ment.” For nearly two decades, Jim DeMint  made a name for himself in Wash-\\ ington fighting for freedom, limited \\ government, and fiscal responsibil-\\ ity. Like former Senator Tom Coburn, \\ DeMint was known throughout our na-\\ tion’s capital for his refusal to become \\ just another Washington insider. He \\ spoke up for the will of the people and \\ the good of the nation, no matter how \\ much opposition he faced from the \\ statist “elite” who call the shots in D.C. But DeMint’s extensive experience in \\ Washington has given him first-hand \\ knowledge of the near-impossibility \\ of making any significant changes \\ from within D.C.: “I’ve tried to rein in Washington from \\ inside the Senate. I’ve tried to elect \\ good conservatives with the Senate \\ Conservatives Fund. And as the Presi-\\ dent of the Heritage Foundation, I’ve \\ worked to create and promote good \\ conservative policy,” DeMint said.  “While all these things are important, \\ the nation cannot be saved from with-\\ in Washington. Only the people in the \\ states can save the country, through a \\ Convention of the States that proposes \\ constitutional amendments to fortify \\ restrictions on federal power.” DeMint served in the U.S. House for \\ South Carolina’s Fourth Congressio- nal District from 1999-2005. He was \\ elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, \\ and served as one of South Carolina’s \\ senators until he resigned in 2012 to \\ become President of the Heritage \\ Foundation. With eighteen years of \\ political experience working both in-\\ side and outside Congress, DeMint of-\\ fers a wealth of wisdom and insight to \\ the volunteer grassroots armies who \\ are reaching every state legislature \\ in the country with the Convention of \\ States Project’s message: we CAN take \\ our power back.  “Once I realized that Washington in-\\ siders will never truly return decision-\\ making power to the people and the \\ states, I began to search for another \\ way to rein in the federal govern-\\ ment,” DeMint said. “When I learned \\ about Article V and the Convention of \\ States Project, I knew I had to get in-\\ volved.” DeMint brings with him more than just \\ legislative experience: he knows how \\ to fight through opposition and make \\ the tough calls for the \\ benefit of the country. In 2009, DeMint was one of only two \\ Senators who voted against Hillary \\ Clinton’s appointment to Secretary of \\ State. In 2010, he introduced an Obam-\\ acare repeal as well as a bill that would \\ have required congressional approval \\ of any major regulatory change made  SEN. JIM DEMINT JOINS  CONVENTION OF STATES AS  SENIOR ADVISOR “Americans are sick and tired of the doubletalk coming out of  Washington. So am I. After serving in the House, the Senate, and  as President of the Heritage Foundation, I’ve finally realized the  most important truth of our time: Washington, D.C., will never fix  itself. Article V is the only solution.” {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto004.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}} know the stakes. As much as the \\ election of Donald Trump grieved \\ half this nation, the left knows his as-\\ cension to the Oval Office is tempo-\\ rary.  There’s nothing he’s doing right \\ now that can’t be undone in the next \\ couple of elections. (The only pos-\\ sible exceptions to that are his Su-\\ preme Court selections, but even \\ SCOTUS is mired in the politics that \\ determine which cases are actually \\ heard.) The Left is uniting against us \\ because they know we’re about to \\ make permanent, structural change. \\ They find the idea of us fixing the \\ problems they’ve spent over a hun-\\ dred years creating as more horrify-\\ ing than President Trump, more hor-\\ rifying than an Obamacare repeal, \\ and more horrifying than a Republi-\\ can appointed SCOTUS pick. You can tell by their lies they’re des-\\ perate. They describe what’s go-\\ ing on in the most inaccurate, fear-\\ inducing ways possible in the leftist \\ media outlets that have been their  pawns and deliv-\\ ery mechanisms. \\ Mark Levin, who \\ popularly intro-\\ duced the Article \\ V convention to \\ the nation in his \\ book  //The Liber-\\ ty Amendments//, \\ said, “They are  purposefully lying or they are utter-\\ ly contemptible or illiterate when it \\ comes to our Constitutional system.” “These powerful, heavily funded or-\\ ganizations have awakened,” Levin \\ continued.  “We are truly the David \\ versus their Goliath.”  I guess that’s \\ a pretty accurate analogy. Once the \\ Convention of States aims the power \\ of the people at the regulatory state, \\ it’ll be as permanent a change as \\ what old Goliath experienced… and \\ no election in the world will be able \\ to bring it back from the dead. As Ronald Reagan once said, “this is a  time for choosing” and THIS is truly \\ a time for choosing. It is now time \\ to choose between those who have \\ declared war on our fellow Ameri-\\ can citizens pursuing their Consti-\\ tutional remedies under Article V \\ (2.2M citizens strong, and growing), \\ or those radical statists who would \\ prevent us from reclaiming our heri-\\ tage and restoring the republic.  It is \\ time to stand with “We the People,” \\ the Framers and the US Constitution. \\ It’s time to stand with Convention of \\ States. Those 230 organizations have de-\\ clared war on us (complete list on p. \\ 5).  They will slander us.  They will \\ utilize their enormous war chest \\ against us. They will use their left-\\ ist media outlets to propagate fear \\ and doubt in those who do not know \\ about the only constitutional solution \\ as big as our nation’s problems. We \\ must stand unified now, and we must \\ do what it takes to reach every Amer-\\ ican citizen and inform them that war \\ has been declared on them and the \\ foundational principles of liberty on \\ which our nation was formed. We must stand above the slander, \\ lies, and deceit of the leftist agen-\\ da that these 230 organizations and \\ their media pawns will continue to \\ put forth. We must define the real al-\\ ternatives in today’s battle: will the \\ American people decide their coun-\\ try’s future or will the federal gov-\\ ernment and liberal “elites”?  We \\ must not let Soros and his cronies \\ instill fear in our fellow Americans \\ and keep them from standing up for \\ liberty and self-governance. **230 ** //Reasons to Support \\ a Convention\\ of States\\ By Mark Meckler\\ //You can tell a lot about a man by his  enemies, and I’d say the same thing is \\ true about an organization.  Though \\ the Convention of States Project is \\ just a grassroots movement, we are \\ animated by the spirit of our coun-\\ try’s founders – a patriotism unwill-\\ ing to let this nation be ruined by a \\ bunch of incompetent, unelected \\ bureaucrats. That’s enough to cause some orga-\\ nizations to self-identify as our en-\\ emies. Two hundred and thirty of \\ them, to be precise, have organized \\ to oppose a Convention of States in-\\ cluding:  **Common Cause, Center ** **on Budget and Policy Priorities, ** **the Daily Kos, Greenpeace USA, ** **NAACP, National Council of La ** **Raza Action Fund, Sierra Club, ** **People For the American Way, De-** **mocracy 21,** large national unions \\ like the **Service Employees Inter-** **national Union and the AFL-CIO, ** **Emily’s List, and Planned Par-** **enthood.** The groups are the most \\ left-wing groups you can find, dedi-\\ cated to Marxism, fascism, radical \\ environmentalism, and abortion-on-\\ demand. It’s actually quite flattering \\ that we’ve gotten them to do what \\ Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders \\ couldn’t: unify with one voice. They  //**“They are purposefully **// //**lying or they are utterly **// //**contemptible or illiter-**// //**ate when it comes to our **// //**Constitutional system.**// //**” **// //- Mark Levin// **4 Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter                                                                                                                           Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter 5** {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto005.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}} A TIME FOR CHOOSING. **Do you stand with the 2.2 million citizen activists who sup-** **port a Convention of States or those who have declared war ** **on their fellow citizens//?//** //On Good Friday,  April 14, 2017, the George Soros funded left-wing policy group Common Cause declared war \\ on the Convention of States Project, announcing the formation of the largest radical left alliance in US history. \\ Almost every radical, liberal, progressive, Marxist group in America signed onto the // //**230-member** coalition to // //oppose the use of Article V and the Convention of States as given to us in our beloved Constitution. The follow-\\ ing is a list of the most notable groups in that coalition. Read the entire list here: // //**cosaction.com/opposition**// ACLU of Colorado Alaska AFL-CIO AFSCME 2960 AFSCME 4041 AFSCME Council 3 AFSCME Council 32 AFSCME Council 67 AFSCME Iowa Council 61 AFSCME Retirees AFSCME Retirees Chapter 32 AFSCME Retirees Chapter 97  **American Federation of Labor ** **   and Congress of Industrial ** **   Organizations (AFL-CIO)** California Common Cause Center for American Progress **Center for Media and ** **   Democracy** Center for Popular Democracy Colorado AFL-CIO Colorado Common Cause **Common Cause** Common Cause Connecticut Common Cause Delaware Common Cause Florida Common Cause Georgia Common Cause Hawaii Common Cause Illinois Common Cause Indiana Common Cause Kentucky Common Cause Maryland Common Cause Michigan Common Cause Minnesota Common Cause Nebraska Common Cause New Mexico Common Cause New York Common Cause North Carolina Common Cause Ohio Common Cause Oregon     Disability Rights Oregon Common Cause Pennsylvania Common Cause Rhode Island Common Cause Texas Common Cause Wisconsin Colorado Sierra Club Communications Workers of     America CWA Local 1081 **Daily Kos** **Democracy 21** Earthjustice **EMILY’s List** **Greenpeace USA** Idaho AFL-CIO Iowa AFL-CIO Kansas AFL-CIO Kentucky AFL-CIO **League of Women Voters of ** **   the United States** League of Women Voters of     Colorado League of Women Voters of     Minnesota League of Women Voters of     New Mexico League of Women Voters of     Wisconsin Maine AFL-CIO Massachusetts AFL-CIO **Mi Familia Vota** Minnesota AFL-CIO Mississippi AFL-CIO Montana AFL-CIO **NAACP** National Association of Social     Workers **National Council of La Raza ** **   Action Fund** National Education Association National Fair Housing Alliance New Hampshire AFL-CIO North Dakota AFL-CIO Oklahoma AFL-CIO OMNI Center for Peace, Justice     & Ecology People for the American Way **Planned Parenthood of ** **   Southern New England** **Service Employees ** **   International Union** **Sierra Club** South Carolina AFL-CIO South Dakota AFL-CIO United Food and Commercial     Workers Virginia AFL-CIO Washington AFL-CIO Wisconsin AFL-CIO Wyoming AFL-CIO **4 Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter                                                                                                                           Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter 5** {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto006.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}} **6 Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter                                                                                                                           Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter 7** JOIN US IN MAKING HISTORY We always knew the statist ruling “elite” would one day attack, but our growing success \\ has forced them to act faster than we anticipated. To ensure that we respond effectively, \\ we’re increasing our grassroots army from 2.2 million to **10 million**. You can be a part  of this historic grassroots movement by getting involved in four unique ways. 1 **Sign and Send** First, sign the Convention of States Petition at  **cosaction.com **or sign the petition below  and mail it to **COSA 1464 Morena Blvd. San Diego, CA 92110.** Then, send the petition to  **five** of your friends. Right now we have over 2 million supporters,  but we’re looking to secure 10 million by the year’s end. If every supporter sends the petition to  five of their friends, we’ll hit that goal in no time. Dear Representative, Almost everyone knows that our federal government is on a dangerous course. The unsustainable debt com-\\ bined with crushing regulations on states and business is a recipe for disaster. What is less known is that the Founders gave state legislatures the power to act as a final check on abuses of \\ power by Washington, DC. Article V of the US Constitution authorizes the state legislatures to call a convention \\ for proposing needed amendments to the Constitution. Citizens for Self-Governance has launched the **Convention of States Project to call an Article V convention to ** **propose only amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power ** **and jurisdiction, and impose term limits on its officials and members of Congress.** I support this approach. I want our state to be one of the necessary 34 states to pass a resolution calling for this \\ kind of Article V Convention. You can find a copy of the model resolution and the Handbook for Legislators and \\ Citizens here: http:%%//%%www.conventionofstates.com/handbook_pdf I ask that you support the Convention of States Project and consider becoming a co-sponsor of the resolution. \\ Please respond to my request by informing the national COS team of your position, or sending them any ques-\\ tions you may have: info@cosaction.com or (540) 441-7227. Thank you so much for your service to the people of our district. Sincerely,\\ %%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%%%__%%_ {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto007.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}} **6 Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter                                                                                                                           Convention of States Action Quarterly Newsletter 7** 2 **Volunteer** Volunteering is the easiest way to get involved in the fight in your state. As a volunteer your  primary tasks will be contacting your state legislators and asking that they support the Con- vention of States resolution, spreading the word about Article V to your friends and family, and  attending legislative meetings at your state capital. You can commit as much or as little time as  your schedule allows -- we’re just excited to welcome you aboard! Volunteer at:  **conventionofstates.com/volunteer** If you’d like to become even more involved, we also have several volunteer teams you can join.  The Social Media Warriors spread the word online, the State Followup Team welcomes new  volunteers, the Chat Team works with the online chat tool, and the Quick Response Team con- tacts volunteers in states around the country and encourages them to call or email their state  legislators. Learn more at:  **conventionofstates.com/volunteer_teams** 3 **Be a Leader** We have leadership positions to fit any skill set. You can apply to be a... Learn more and apply at:  **conventionofstates.com/be_a_** **leader** **•  State Director** **•  District Captain** **•  Veterans Coalitions ** **     Director** **•  State Videographer** **•  Digital Marketing ** **     Coordinator** **•  Legislative Liaison** **•  Coalitions Director** **•  State Media Liaison** **•  State Tech Assistant/** **     Manager** **•  State Grassroots ** **     Coordinator** 4 **Spread the Word** **facebook.com/conventionofstates** **instagram.com/conventionofstates** **twitter.com/COSProject** **540-441-7227 to request a speaker.** Be a leader in your com- munity and help spread the \\ word by being the first to \\ read Sen. Tom Coburn’s new \\ book  //**Smashing the DC Mo-**// //**nopoly: Using Article V to **// //**Restore Freedom and Stop **// //**R u n a w a y **// //**Government.** // Get your own \\ copy today on \\ Amazon.com \\ at:  **http:%%//%%a.** **co/8Wto4zr.** {{:cb_mirror_public:media:files_4483_pdfto008.png?nolink&918x1188 |background image}} **     FILED THE COS ** **RESOLUTION (48 ** **STATES)** AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DE, \\ FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, \\ LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, \\ MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, \\ NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, \\ SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, \\ WI, WV, WY  **      ** **PASSED THE COS ** **RESOLUTION (12 ** **STATES)** GA, FL, AK, AL, IN, TN, OK, LA, \\ AZ, ND, TX, MO **       ** **HOUSE FLOOR ** **VOTE WINS (18 ** **STATES)** AL, AK, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IN, IA, \\ LA, ND, NM, TN, VA, SD, UT, \\ OK, MO, TX **      SENATE FLOOR ** **VOTE WINS (17 ** **STATES)** AL, AK, AZ, AR, FL, GA, IN, MO, \\ NH, NC, ND, OK, LA, MO, TN, \\ TX, WV **      COMMITTEE WINS ** **(27 STATES)** AL, AK, AZ, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, \\ IA, KS, LA, MS, MO, NE, NH, \\ NM, NC, ND, OK, SC, SD, TN, \\ TX, UT, VA, WV, WY **LEGISLATIVE** **VICTORIES** //BY THE // //NUMBERS// cosaction.com | (540)-441-7227 | Facebook.com/COSAction