***The Iowa Standard is an independent media voice. We rely on the financial support of our readers to exist. Please consider a one-time sign of support or becoming a monthly supporter at $5, $10/month - whatever you think we're worth! If you’ve ever used the phrase “Fake News” — now YOU can actually DO something about it! You can also support us on PayPal at [email protected] or Venmo at Iowa-Standard-2018 or through the mail at: PO Box 112 Sioux Center, IA 51250

While one resolution calling for an Article V Convention passed on Wednesday, this one failed.

House Joint Resolution 3 proposed a convention to impose specified limitations on members of Congress.

Republican Rep. Shannon Lundgren said the proposed amendment subjects members of Congress equally to all laws that apply to citizens, removes benefits that members of Congress receive after leaving office, requires all past, present and future members of Congress to participate in Social Security, require members of Congress to purchase retirement plans, limit congressional pay increases, eliminate the current Congressional health care system and void all contracts with past and present members of Congress.

Democrat Rep. Christina Bohannan said we do not need an Article V Convention to talk about the issues listed.

“If people are concerned about Congress’s pay raises or something like that, it might be interesting to know that Congress has not actually passed a law to affect its own compensation since 1991,” Bohannan said.

Congress, she said, gets automatic raises based on how the private sector is doing.

“I think this is not at all necessary,” Bohannan said. “I think if people are concerned about Congress’s compensation they should be quite happy right now because we are not seeing increases in congressional compensation at all.”

Republican State Rep. Jacob Bossman said he believes a convention is necessary, but he has some concerns over this language.

“This language I’m less enthused about than the other,” Bossman said. “I would question whether, you know, we really have the ability to limit what ta convention could cover. But I do think that there’s a lot of distrust of governments, division among our society right now and I think there’s a lot of things that over the years, the public, the citizens have wanted Congress to address that they haven’t.”

Ultimately Bossman said a convention “covering just about any topic would be healthy.”

“I’m more looking forward to the other subcommittee, but yeah, I guess my main point is, is I would like to have a convention of some sort,” he said.

Republican Rep. Shannon Lundgren said some of Bohannan’s points were well taken with regards to congressional play. She also said the language in HJR 3 may not prevent the delegates from doing more than what they intend them to do.

The resolution failed.

Author: Jacob Hall

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here