Illinois House Joint Resolution 19 calls for an Article V
Convention of States
to limit the scope, jurisdiction, and spending of the federal government
Gridlock & Political Hostage-Taking
Illinois voters of both parties are tired of seeing some of the most vulnerable Americans being used as a political football in Washington, D.C. Education, care for the elderly, and disaster relief have all suffered from political brinksmanship; and funding for important programs can be attached to completely unrelated legislation. What kinds of amendments could address this problem?
- Require amendments to congressional legislation to be germane, just as 3/4 of the states do.
- Return to the States functions that have crept up to the national level over the last century.
Implementing these changes would insulate states and individual citizens from partisan dysfunction at the federal level, and allow federal officeholders to give their attention to issues that only the federal government can handle: e.g., foreign policy, national security, and immigration. Moreover, it would help to eliminate unfunded federal mandates and Illinois’ status as a Donor State.
