PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS (Senate - June 26, 1992)
[Page: S5350]
POM-428. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Colorado; to the Committee on the Judiciary:
`Whereas, State revenue growth has diminished dramatically, forcing budget reductions and tax increases in order to maintain federal services and programs; and
`Whereas, Rising costs and declining fiscal conditions of the states have resulted in financial difficulty for the states in financing federal programs; and
`Whereas, Immediate measures must be taken to ensure that the states will be given adequate funding and flexibility to carry out the federal programs that are turned over to them; and
`Whereas, Under article V of the constitution of the United States, amendments to the federal constitution may be proposed by the Congress whenever two-thirds of both houses deem it necessary or on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states that the Congress shall call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing amendments which shall be valid to all intents and purposes when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several states; now, therefore, be it
`Resolved by the Senate of the Fifty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
`That the Congress of the United States is hereby memorialized to call a limited constitutional convention pursuant to article V of the constitution of the United States for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the federal constitution prohibiting the federal government from reducing the federally financed proportion of the necessary costs of any existing activity or service required of the states by federal law, or from requiring a new activity or service, or an increase in the level of an activity or service beyond that required of the states by existing federal law, unless the federal government pays for any necessary increased costs. Be it further
`Resolved, That this application and request be deemed null and void, rescinded, and of no effect in the event that such convention not be limited to such specific and exclusive purpose. Be it further
`Resolved, That copies of this Memorial be sent to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to each member of Colorado's congressional delegation and to each house of each state's legislature in the United States.'
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