Title: Congress Begins Acting on Article V Topics
Original CoS Document (slug): congress-begins-acting-on-article-v-topics
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Created: 2016-09-23 16:59:00
Updated: 2019-11-25 10:08:39
Published: 2017-12-06 00:00:00
Converted: 2025-04-14T20:54:50.043599891
Congressman Peter Roskam today announced the passage of the RESPECT Act, which stipulates additional requirements that must be met before the IRS may seize assets. Interestingly, the announcement comes on the very same day that state legislators from all 50 states wrapped up an Article V Convention Simulation with a live-streamed floor debate. Civil asset forfeiture is one of many federal abuses that can be addressed at an Article V Convention to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government.
Earlier this year, the number of states that have passed our resolution doubled, we secured petition signatures from every legislative district in all 50 states, and were featured in a front-page article in the New York Times. The power brokers have begun to take notice, and they'll do anything to make sure that they can continue to do business on their own terms. Senator Mike Lee and Speaker Paul Ryan have introduced similar measures to begin to restore the broken system of checks and balances that inspired the creation of the Convention of States Project.
So what's wrong with a little RESPECT from the IRS?
- This bill has not passed the Senate, nor has it been signed into law by the President.
- It can be overturned by the Supreme Court.
- Congress can go back later and gut the law, as they did with insider trading prohibitions.
- It does nothing to stop seizures by other federal agencies like the Department of Justice.
- It does nothing to stop other abuses by the IRS, such as politically-motivated harassment and dissemination of confidential information.
- It does nothing to stop federal officials from using the tax code to reward their big donors by manipulating the tax code in their favor.
Congress has a long history of moving to act when state legislatures unify around Article V, starting with the Bill of Rights and continuing with the abolition of slavery, direct election of Senators, the repeal of Prohibition, and term limits for the President. They want to be in control of reforms that will apply to them, not have them imposed by the people's duly elected representatives in the state legislatures. The Convention of States Project is having an impact on Washington, even before we get to convention.
It's not too late to sign the on-line petition at COSaction.com. And use the buttons below to share on social media.
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