Montana’s 68th legislature is in session and is considering over 1300 bills to date. Most of us will only take note of a few high-profile bills that will have a direct and immediate impact on our lives. For example, tax relief bills, a couple of which will pass with little opposition. However, there is one bill if passed that could have significant, adverse and long-term consequences to our state and country. This bill is flying under the radar with little or no attention. I’m referring to Senate Joint Resolution 2, (SJ 2).
SJ 2 aims to invoke Article V of the U.S. Constitution to call a limited constitutional convention, which could ratify amendments to the U.S. Constitution. As stated in section 1 of the resolution, SJ 2 would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and impose term limits for officials and congress. To date, 19 other states have passed this resolution. A minimum of 34 (two thirds of the states) will need to pass this resolution to call a convention. So, what is the premise behind SJ 2, its intent and foreseeable consequences?
Imposing fiscal restraints, as stated in Section 1 is not well defined. Any amendment resulting from SJ 2 as written, could be used, for example, to gut necessary programs and use the saved revenue to enact tax cuts. As a result, we would move no closer toward a balanced budget or reducing the deficit, which is the unsupported basis of SJ 2. If this resolution’s intent is fiscal responsibility, then SJ 2 should have made clear that revenue saved as a result of budget cuts shall be used exclusively to pay down the deficit and to work toward balancing the budget. SJ 2, as drafted, does not make this distinction.
