HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 12

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

Randall T. Pettigrew and John Block and Jimmy G. Mason

 

 

 

 

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES UNDER ARTICLE 5 OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO CALL A CONVENTION, UPON THE APPLICATION OF TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATES, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE OF PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO IMPOSE FISCAL RESTRAINTS ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LIMIT THE POWER AND JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LIMIT THE TERMS OF OFFICE FOR FEDERAL OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

 

     WHEREAS, the governor of New Mexico is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget, and the New Mexico legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget, thereby preserving the state's financial solvency and integrity; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government continues to accrue unsustainable increases in the national debt, obligating New Mexico's citizens and future generations to insurmountable financial burdens; and

     WHEREAS, otherwise necessary federal regulatory protections become costly, unworkable and oppressive when congested by an excess of unnecessary and obsolete rules and mandates, causing hardships to local governments, small businesses and working families; and

     WHEREAS, a professionalized congress, whose members may be more influenced by the power of organized pressure groups than the interests of the majority of the citizens, fails in its service to those citizens and proves unresponsive to fiscal excess and government overreach; and

     WHEREAS, constitutionally applied mechanisms for establishing sound requirements for accountability of federal spending, regulation and public service are necessary to the well-being of the people; and

     WHEREAS, Article 5 of the United States constitution provides authority for a convention to be called by the congress of the United States for the purpose of proposing amendments to the constitution upon application of two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislature hereby applies to congress, under the provisions of Article 5 of the United States constitution, for the calling of a convention of the states limited to proposing amendments to the United States constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and limit the terms of office for federal officials and members of congress; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of state is hereby directed to transmit copies of this application to the president of the United States, the president and secretary of the United States senate and the speaker and clerk of the United States house of representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article 5 of the United States constitution until the legislatures of at least two-thirds of the several states have made applications on the same subject.

- 3 -