This past March, the West Virginia state senate joined the state house in approving the call for a term limits on Congress convention. The application was officially filed in Congress and gives notice that West Virginia is to be counted towards the 34 state applications required to call the term limits proposal convention. The effort was sponsored by West Virginia State Senator Randy Smith and House Delegate Jeff Pack.
Senator Randy Smith commented on the victory, “I’m glad to see West Virginia moved one step closer to reeling in career politicians and a runaway Congress by passing HCR9 this morning and sending a message to D.C. that a majority of the citizens in this state are fed up with their deaf ear to we the people.” “After two years of partial success, the West Virginia Legislature has finally passed our US Term Limits Resolution. HCR9 is in response to the majority of West Virginians who have demanded their legislature take action to rein in the federal government,” said Delegate Pack. Aaron Dukette, USTL’s Central Region Director, Shanna Chamblee, Legislative Director, and Les Chamblee, Grassroots Specialist, were integral to the passage of HCR9 this past session. Les and Shanna, with their children, traveled West Virginia this October to present a token of thanks to the legislators who championed our resolution.
Shanna commented, “We are proud to have presented Champion of Term Limits plaques to the dedicated West Virginia lawmakers who saw our 3-year effort through to victory. These legislators have set a high bar that I hope legislators in other states will follow.”
The key to USTL’s strategy is that the U.S. Constitution provides the state legislatures with authority to propose amendments without the approval of Congress. To make it happen, 34 state legislatures must pass resolutions to call a convention to propose a congressional term limits amendment.
