Monday, January 30, 2012

National Debt Relief Amendment Introduced in US House

RestoringFreedom.Org, Inc.
P.O. Box 793994
Dallas, TX 75379-3994
Phone (817) 366-1801
Fax (972) 380-5509
www.RestoringFreedom.Org


Press Release
Contact: James Booth
Phone: (817) 366-1801
Email: JBooth@RestoringFreedom.Org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11:00 A.M. EDT,
January 18, 2012

NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF AMENDMENT INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
DALLAS, TX, January 18th, 2012: Consistent with the history of state-led amendment proposals, Arizona Representative David Schweikert has introduced the National Debt Relief Amendment today for consideration by the U.S. Congress. The National Debt Relief Amendment, if recommended by two-thirds of each chamber of Congress and ratified by three-quarters of the states, would take away Congress’ authority to increase the debt limit while transferring that authority to the combined will of a majority of the state legislatures. The proposed amendment text is: “An increase in the Federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the several States.”

RestoringFreedom.Org has been advancing the National Debt Relief Amendment (NDRA) through the state legislatures who are invoking their power under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to propose amendments independent of Congress. The States of North Dakota and Louisiana have passed resolutions calling for the NDRA, and prime sponsors in 21 additional states have introduced the resolution or intend introduction as soon as practicable.

In the past, the state-led process has approached the two-thirds threshold (currently 34 states) required to convene a drafting convention prior to Congress stepping in to propose the amendment. With the skyrocketing federal debt passing $15 trillion and exceeding 100% of the GDP of the United States, along with Congress’ demonstrated inability to rein in its reliance on debt, the wisdom of moving the approval authority out of Washington D.C. has resonated in a bi-partisan call for the amendment within the state legislatures. Clearly the momentum behind this powerful idea has initiated an early review and assessment by Congress.

RestoringFreedom.Org was contacted by Representative Schweikert’s office and informed of his decision to submit the bill in Congress just days following a “do pass” recommendation from the Arizona Senate’s “Government Reform Committee” held on January 11th. (See video of hearing here: http://azleg.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=13&clip_id=9652 starting at 5:45)

North Dakota State Senator Curtis Olafson, who has led the state initiative, and serves as National Spokesman for RestoringFreedom.Org responded by saying, "RestoringFreedom.Org welcomes the introduction of the National Debt Relief Amendment in the US House. We will continue building momentum with our state-initiated effort invoking the rights of state legislatures to propose this amendment to our Constitution. This means that the National Debt Relief Amendment will be advanced using both methods so wisely provided by our Founding Fathers in Article V."

RestoringFreedom.Org, Inc. is a Texas non-profit corporation dedicated to developing and promoting non-partisan solutions to America’s challenges. More information is available at www.RestoringFreedom.Org, or by contacting our national spokesman, North Dakota State Senator Curtis Olafson at colafson@polarcomm.com.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Link to article in Forbes.com

This link will take you to a story on the Harvard Law School Conference on the Constitutional Convention, which was held in late September. I was invited to be a speaker and a panelist at the conference.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphbenko/2011/10/03/time-for-a-constitutional-convention-its-the-integrity-stupid-part-2/

Thursday, September 22, 2011

National Debt Relief Amendment Press Release

RestoringFreedom.Org, Inc.
P.O. Box 793994
Dallas, TX 75379-3994
Phone (817) 366-1801
Fax (972) 380-5509
www.RestoringFreedom.Org
Press Release
Contact: James Booth
Phone: (817) 366-1801
Email: JBooth@RestoringFreedom.Org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1:00 P.M. EDT, September 22, 2011

MORE STATES PROPOSING SOLUTION TO FEDERAL DEBT CRISIS
DALLAS, TX, SEPTEMBER 22TH, 2011: State Legislators from across the country are joining together to allow Americans a greater voice before Congress increases the Federal Debt. Over the preceding two weeks the National Debt Relief Amendment (NDRA) has attracted additional legislative sponsors in four states. State legislators in Montana, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin have committed to introduce a resolution calling for a limited amendments convention to propose the following amendment language: “An increase in the federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the separate states.”
The NDRA Amendment resolution was passed in the States of North Dakota and Louisiana this year with bi-partisan support in both chambers, and the recent additions could result in twelve additional states joining in the NDRA convention call. States where the NDRA is pending introduction or passage are Arkansas, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. Serious discussions are underway with state legislators in an additional 12 states.
Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, once 34 states have called for an “amendments convention” on the same subject, Congress is required to provide a place and time for state delegates from 50 states to convene and propose an amendment or amendments for ratification that are within the scope of the state resolution.
Bi-partisan momentum is building behind the National Debt Relief Amendment as state legislators listen to the concerns of their constituents over the federal debt. The NDRA would create a national discussion and decision outside of Washington whenever Congress relies upon debt to fund its activities.
The National Debt Relief Amendment was drafted by RestoringFreedom.Org, Inc., and has been researched and endorsed by the Goldwater Institute, one of America’s leading public-policy organizations. The resolution was adopted as Model Legislation in January of this year by the American Legislative Exchange Council.
RestoringFreedom.Org, Inc. is a Texas non-profit corporation dedicated to developing and promoting non-partisan solutions to America’s challenges. More information is available at www.RestoringFreedom.Org, or by contacting our national spokesman, North Dakota State Senator Curtis Olafson at colafson@polarcomm.com.