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Minutes for SCR1604 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Making application to the United States congress to call a convention of the states for the purpose of proposing amendments to limit the federal government.
Minutes Content for Mon, Mar 17, 2025
The Chair opened the hearing on SCR1604.
Mike Heim, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, provided a (Attachment1)summary of SCR1604 which would provide that the legislature of the state of Kansas would apply to the Congress of the United States, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to amending the constitution of the United States by having imposed fiscal restraints on the federal government, limited the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limited the terms of office for officials of the federal government and members of the Congress of the United States.
Proponents:
Bob Strawder, Convention of States, Grass Roots Coordinator, gave supporting(Attachment2) testimony on SCR1604. Mr. Strawder testified that the government has been in our business in ways they were never supposed to be. Mr. Strawder advised that the Constitution was formed to restrict the federal government, not the people.
Ben Terrill, Convention of States, testified (Attachment3)in support of SCR1604. Mr. Terrill testified that he has served ten years as a volunteer Legislative Liaison for the Convention of States in Kansas. The mission the Convention of States has focused on is in restoring our country to a proper constitutional order.
David Schneider, Convention of States provided (Attachment4)testimony in support of SCR1604. Mr. Schneider advised that the framers of our Constitution anticipated the need to curb federal overreach when Congress refused to act. That is exactly what SCR1604 would do.
Michael Farris, J.D., testified (Attachment5)that the SCR1604 resolution offered a structural solution to a structural problem. The resolution offered a chance to restore the balance of power in the federal system by focusing on the constitutional given under Article V.
Opponent: John Axtell, (Attachment6)Citizen, testified in opposition of SCR1602 citing that there are no good amendments that would make the government smaller, would pass, and unlikely that Kansas could even keep bad amendments from passing out of the convention.
The Chair reminded the committee that there is a Written Only testimony to review for SCR1604.
Written Only proponent: David Copeland,(Attachment7) Convention of States, provided written testimony advising opponents have claimed that the amendment convention could not be controlled.
Written opponent: none
The Chair closed the hearing on SCR1604.
The Chair directed the committee to the minutes for review for February 17th and 27th, and March 11th and 12th.
Representative Schmoe moved, Representative Miller seconded to approve the minutes for February 17 and 27 and March 11 and 12, as presented. Motion carried.
Chair Kessler adjourned the meeting at 10:06 am.
