Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, the chairwoman of the National Governors Association, told TheBlaze that a state-driven constitutional convention “certainly is one way” governors are looking at to reigning in the federal government.
Chair of the National Governor's Association (NGA), Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin (2nd R), speaks to the press outside of the West Wing after members of the NGA met with US President Barack Obama at the White House on January 14, 2014 in Washington. From left: Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, Fallin, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Utah Governor Gary Herbert, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
Fallin and five other governors on the NGA executive committee were at the White House Tuesday for a meeting with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Last month about 100 state legislators from 32 states gathered at Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, to promote a constitutional convention as a means of controlling the power of the federal government. Meanwhile, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence recently signed legislation supporting a convention, while Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal supports a convention to achieve a balanced federal budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
TheBlaze asked about Pence and Jindal's position.
“We are all concerned about the deficit of our nation and spending that has gone on here in Washington, D.C.,” Fallin responded. “Americans are concerned about the direction our nation is going, whether it's looking at a constitutional convention, or whether it's trying to get a grasp on entitlement spending, or whether it's trying to make government more efficient or effective.”
“There are a lot of different pools of money that go into that consolidated programs to make them more efficient, we're open to looking at all kinds of ideas to reduce the deficit,” Fallin continued. “But that certainly is one way that governors are looking at trying to rein in the deficit.”
A convention is outlined in Article Five of the Constitution, which would allow two-thirds of state legislatures, or 34 states, to approve an application for a convention. States would then sent delegates to the convention. For an amendment to be adopted, it would have to be approved by three-fourths of, or 38 states.
The concept has gained attention over the last year after the release of bestselling “Liberty Amendments” by Mark Levin, talk radio host and president of the Landmark Legal Foundation. Levin's proposed amendments included a balanced budget amendment and congressional term limits.
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