For immediate release
March 1st, 2021
Contact: Aaron Dukette, U.S. Term Limits
Phone: 859-779-0181
adukette@termlimits.com
State legislators introduce twin resolutions to term limit Congress
Washington, D.C. — Delegate Jeff Pack and Senator Randy Smith have introduced mirror resolutions for West Virginia to join other states in calling for a convention for proposing a congressional term limits amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The effort is backed by the nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit, U.S. Term Limits. The resolution has its first hearing Tuesday, March 2nd.
The legislation calls for a “convention for proposing amendments” in order for the states to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the United States Constitution. When 34 states make the call, all 50 states come to the table to draft a proposal, bypassing Congress. Any proposal coming out of the convention would need to be ratified by 38 states to become law.
A McLaughlin poll among likely West Virginia voters showed that 83% want term limits on Congress.
House Concurrent Resolution 9 (HCR9) and Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 (SCR10) have a groundswell of bipartisan support at the capitol in Charleston. Over 60% of the West Virginia legislature has signed a pledge to co-sponsor and vote for the resolution.
Del. Pack commented, “Its time to drain the swamp of politicians who are out of touch with hard working West Virginians. The best way to do that is by establishing term limits on Congress.” His counterpart in the senate, Sen. Randy Smith, also noted “With the shape that our Congress is in, there has never been a better time to do this than now. Congress has too much power and is not doing its job, so we the people are going to have to get it done. They won’t fix it, so we need to fix it for them.”
U.S. Term Limits President Philip Blumel commended the lead sponsors for putting forth the legislation. Blumel said, “The people of West Virginia are lucky to have public servants who see what is going on in D.C. and are willing to take action to fix it. They know that Congress won’t set term limits on itself. Therefore, it is the obligation of the states to do so.”
HCR9 is already slated for a vote in House Government Organization Committee on Tuesday. If passed in both the house and senate this session, West Virginia will join other states in the call for a term limits convention.
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U.S. Term Limits is the oldest and largest grassroots term limits advocacy group in the country. We connect term limits supporters with their legislators and work to pass term limits on all elected officials, particularly on the U.S. Congress. Find out more at termlimits.com.