Title: The Omni-Swamp of 2018 Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/omni-swamp-2018|omni-swamp-2018]] Login Required to view? No Created: 2018-03-27 13:50:16 Updated: 2019-01-04 05:45:06 Published: 2018-03-27 20:00:00 Converted: 2025-04-14T20:58:40.300976582 ---- //The following was written by Chris Walker, COS Virginia's State Director.// Last week Congress saddled taxpayers with a [[https://conventionofstates.com/news/congress-gives-itself-a-raise-with-massive-new-spending-bill|$1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill]]. It was put together behind closed doors by congressional leadership from the two parties. It runs more than 2,200 pages, and Congressmen had less than 48 hours to read the bill. All this from the Congress with a majority in both chambers that every election claims to be fiscally conservative? \\ \\ If you are still under the delusion that the federal government will ever reform itself, reflect on this: the President threatened to veto this spending bill not because it is so expensive and funded things he opposes. He opposed it because it did not spend enough on his priorities. \\ \\ In the end, President Trump went along with Congress. Fourteen months in and the rats have drowned MAGA in their swamp.\\ \\ Do you now understand that it does not matter whether Team R or Team D is in charge? \\ \\ Our federal overlords are addicted to the money, privileges, and prestige that power brings to them, their families, and their friends. What keeps them in power is spending that their constituents never have to pay for—in other words, endless deficits.\\ \\ They will not stop their reckless spending because that is how they buy votes from powerful special interests that rule Washington. \\ \\ But I have another message for you. Don’t only blame Washington. Blame Richmond too.\\ \\ You may be rereading that last sentence. Why blame our state legislators? What did they do? Well, I’m glad you asked. They have rendered themselves useless.\\ \\ Professor Randy Barnett of Georgetown Law Center illustrated the issue well, which I will paraphrase.  * If presidents never vetoed a bill from Congress, the presidency would be irrelevant concerning legislation. * If the Senate never rejected a bill from the House of Representatives, it would be a rubber-stamping debate club. * If the states never call an Article V Convention of States to propose amendments that rein in Washington, then they are irrelevant to federal politicians. And that is exactly what our states are today. Irrelevant to Washington’s ruling elites. \\ \\ That is why you too are irrelevant to the elite of both parties, and now even to the president who promised to drain the swamp and build a wall.\\ \\ Until your state legislators use the constitutional authority they have in Article V and hold D.C. accountable, it is us who suffer the consequences. \\ \\ You must hold your state legislators responsible for the mess in Washington. They are the problem because they still have not called for a Convention of States. Call your legislators. Write them. Hound them. If you are not sure who they are, look them up [[http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/|here]]. When you write them, copy us at leaders.va@cosaction.com.