CBPP on the Balanced Budget Amendment/Constitutional Convention
Tiffany Kaszuba
Good Afternoon NDD United,
Below is an important update and sign on letter from our partners at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on the Balanced Budget Amendment/Constitutional Convention. As we have noted before, a balanced budget amendment would force even deeper cuts to NDD programs than the Budget Control Act, as entitlements and a shrinking federal budget crowd out other spending. The deadline for signers is TOMORROW! J
Tiffany Kaszuba, MBA
Vice President
Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates
F: 202.484.1244
Hello National Partners-
We have an urgent need for your organization to sign-on to a letter opposing the use of Article V to move this country to a Constitutional Convention. Please sign-on by tomorrow afternoon, April 7.
As you know, various ALEC-driven groups are pushing for resolutions in states with the intent of taking our country to a Constitutional convention, the first since 1787. Under Article V of the US Constitution, 34 states are needed to have “live” resolutions calling for a convention. It may sound far-fetched, but the effort is quietly gaining momentum and the consequences couldn’t be greater as the entire Constitution would be up for grabs. Today, proponents claim to have 28 state resolutions – SIX shy of what is needed to compel Congress to act. Despite losing Arizona and Wyoming in the last few weeks, we’re excited to report that we had a major victory today. Maryland successfully passed their resolution to rescind all Article V applications for a convention, and efforts are underway in other states to rescind their resolutions as well.
This is not over yet. Our work continues as threats still loom in other target states. One of the keys to this work is the collaboration between national and state partners.
Common Cause has drafted a letter with a civil rights lens and is collecting signatures from national and state partners. We have circulated state-specific letters in the past, but this letter is broad enough that we hope it will be versatile nationwide. We hope you will join the 71 other organizations that have already signed on. Please let me know by Friday, April 7 COB if you would like to sign on. Thank you for all of your work and contributions towards this effort.
Becca
SIGNED ON:
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American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) |
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ACE-AFSCME Local 2250 (Maryland) |
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AFSCME 4041 (Nevada) |
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AFSCME 2960 (Phoenix) |
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AFSCME Council 3 (Maryland) |
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AFSCME Council 32 (Wisconsin) |
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AFSCME Council 67 (Maryland) |
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AFSCME Retirees |
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Wisconsin AFSCME Retirees Chapter 32 |
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African American Ministers In Action |
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American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee |
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Arizona AFSCME Retiree Chapter 97 |
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Arizona Advocacy Network |
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Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote |
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Bend the Arc Jewish Action |
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Brennan Center for Justice |
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Campaign Legal Center |
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Center for Media and Democracy |
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Center for Popular Democracy |
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Center on Budget & Policy Priorities |
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Clean Elections Texas |
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Colorado Ethics Watch |
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Common Cause |
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Communications Workers of America (CWA) |
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Courage Campaign |
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Daily Kos |
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Democracy 21 |
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Disability Rights Maine |
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Disability Rights Maryland |
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Disability Rights North Carolina |
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Disability Rights Oregon |
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Earthjustice |
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Economic Policy Institute |
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Every Voice |
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Fair Elections Legal Network |
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Greenpeace USA |
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League of Women Voters of the United States |
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League of Women Voters Wisconsin |
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Maryland Center on Economic Policy |
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Mi Familia Vota |
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Minnesota Citizens for Clean Elections |
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NAACP |
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National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse |
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National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) |
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National Council of Jewish Women |
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National Council of La Raza Action Fund |
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National Disability Rights Network |
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National Education Association (NEA) |
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National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) |
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National Women's Law Center |
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Nebraskans for Civic Reform |
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Ohio Voice |
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One Wisconsin Now |
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People For the American Way |
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ProgressNow |
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Progress Michigan |
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ProgressOhio |
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Public Justice Center |
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Service Employees International Union (SEIU) |
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Sierra Club |
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Social Security Works |
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State Innovation Exchange |
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The Voting Rights Institute |
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Virginia Civic Engagement Table |
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VoteVets Action Fund |
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Washington Community Action Network to |
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West Virginia Citizen Action Group |
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Wisconsin Council on Children and Families |
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Wisconsin Democracy Campaign |
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Wisconsin Voices |
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Women’s Voices Women Vote Action Fund |
Additional Resources:
· Common Cause background memo
· CBPP Paper: States Likely Could Not Control a Constitutional Convention on Balanced Budget Amendment or Other Issues - January 18, 2017
· Salon: Hey, wouldn’t it be cool to have a constitutional convention? Oh, hell no – March 12, 2017
· Fusion: Right-Wing Billionaires Are Buying Themselves a New Constitution – March 4, 2017
Becca Segal
State Strategies Manager
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
820 First Street NE, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002
<image002.jpg>@becca_segal