Upcoming COS VA Events and HJ497

Virginia Convention of States Team - Attached is a summary of upcoming events involving Virginia's Convention of States Project team.  Please encourage potential supporters to attend, and where possible also attend yourself to show your support.  Also, please email me with the details for any event not yet on our radar scope.  Our goal is passage of House Joint Resolution 497 (linked here: HJ497), which will be voted on after the Virginia General Assembly convenes on Tuesday, 14 January.  Here are some key points about HJ497 to highlight when talking to potential supporters: HJ497 invokes Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which enables States to convene a "convention of the States" for the purpose of proposing Constitutional amendments.  Article V was written to allow States to propose constitutional amendments because an overreaching Federal government will not reform itself.  The Founders reasoned that should the Federal government become tyrannical then the States must be able to propose amendments in a way that cannot be obstructed by Washington. In accordance with Article V, once two-thirds of states (34 states) agree on a particular subject, the Convention of States (or "Article V convention") is empowered to propose Constitutional amendments which Washington, D.C. politicians cannot control, manipulate or ignore. HJ497 specifically limits amendments that can be proposed to those which impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, or limit the terms of office for Federal officials including members of Congress. Once HJ497 is passed, Virginia will stand alongside three states that have already passed the resolution (Georgia, Florida & Alaska) and roughly 30 other states that have, or soon will take up its passage in their legislature. All amendments proposed by a Convention of States must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 states) before taking effect.  We're closing in on a vote for HJ497, which the General Assembly is likely to have by the end of the month. Now is the time to press as hard as possible for its passage!  Contact your State representatives and specifically cite HJ497 as the resolution you want passed (there are other, weak imitations!). Also, please let me know of any other citizen groups in your area that you think we should pursue as potential coalition partners.  We want to align as many other organizations as possible behind HJ497, as this definitely will influence your State representatives. Thanks for your continued efforts and support! Warren Wheeler Virginia Coalitions Director Convention of States Project coalitions.va@selfgovern.com Please click on the attachment link below. Attachment: Summary of Upcoming COS Events Convention of States Project · PO Box 1073, Purcellville, VA 20134, United States This email was sent to alexanderofyork@yorkteaparty.org. To stop receiving emails, click here. You can also keep up with Virginia Coalitions Director on Twitter. Created with NationBuilder, the essential toolkit for leaders.