Markley and Sampson to Host Convention of States Forum

January 25, 2017

Markley and Sampson to Host
Convention of States Forum
February 9 at State Capitol

Hartford-State Senator Joe Markley (R-Southington) and state Representative Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) will host an informational forum on the Convention of States movement. The forum will be held on Thursday, February 9th from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building, 300 Capitol Avenue in Hartford.

“Many constituents and activists on both sides of this debate have contacted us about the Convention of States movement,” said Senator Markley. “Representative Sampson and I decided to invite people who have studied the subject to explain the proposal and articulate the case both for and against it.”

The Convention of States movement seeks to pass resolutions in two-thirds of the state legislatures to convene a convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Any amendments approved by the convention would then have to be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures to become part of the Constitution. This method of amendment—which has never been used—is laid out in Article V of the Constitution.

“An Article V convention is an idea that seems to be picking up steam. Like a lot of conservatives, I would like to see us get back to founding principles, particularly that of a limited federal government,” said Representative Sampson. “I think the jury is still out on the pluses and minuses if such a convention does happen, but I am excited to participate in this forum, share my own experiences and learn more about it.”

Presenting at the forum will be experts from the Convention of States Project, which advocates for the measure, and attorney Deborah Stevenson, a Constitutional scholar and conservative activist, who will make the case against a Constitutional convention.

“Our objective at the forum is not to persuade but inform, though Representative Sampson and I will certainly share our views on the initiative,” said Senator Markley. “We hope to educate interested citizens about the purpose, meaning, and mechanism of amending the constitution through a Convention of States, and to hear the views and questions of those who join us.”

There will be time allotted for questions from the press and from interested citizens.