Letters to the editor: State senator attended Convention of States
Md. senator writes on the importance of the Convention of States
To the editor:
This past month I had the honor of going to Williamsburg, Va., to attend a simulated Article V Convention of States. Organized by the Convention of States Foundation, this is a meeting of delegates from every state to discuss potential constitutional amendments that may come up in the future. This is an important way we keep our federal government in check and hold our government to the founding principles instilled in it by our founders.
There were six constitutional amendment proposals brought to the full assembly. The first was an amendment that would term limit Congress; the second would cap the number of seats on the Supreme Court; the third revolved around a balanced budget based on average revenue; the fourth was a new definition of the Commerce Clause; the fifth allowed a simple majority of states to rescind actions by Congress, the president, or other administrative agencies; the sixth and final one forbade the federal government from owning, regulating, or controlling land and mineral rights, except when granted permission by a state’s legislature.
The proposal of these amendments is to curb the ever-growing power of the federal government. Congress and the president continue to pass laws that take power away from the states and the governed and concentrate it in themselves. The president’s power has increased exponentially since the end of World War II (with the assistance of a lazy and uninterested Congress), to which presidents of our past would wholly reject. Congress has delegated their duties away and instead of being a voice of the states, they are now a group of 535 oligarchs who are more interested with lining their pockets and holding power. It is a complete disgrace and abomination to our republic the way our officials conduct themselves and the offices they hold. We must push for limits on government and to bring the power back to the people.
As always, I am your voice and elected representative in Annapolis. Please inform me of your opinions on this as well as all other pieces of potential legislation at mike.mckay@senate.state.md.us.
State Sen. Mike McKay, R-Washington/Allegany/Garrett Cumberland, Md.
Tired of Tim Rowland's 'Trump bashing'
To the editor:
I am over 65, and this is an insult: "With more than a quarter of all Republicans being over the age of 65, you don’t want a debate that starts at 9 p.m. in Milwaukee, you want a debate that starts at 4 p.m. at Denny’s." ("On Trump's legal woes: Every professional gambler looks great until he folds," Tim Rowland, Aug. 27)
I do not find this guy funny, and (he) is a lousy commentator on political news. I am sick of his Trump bashing.
Martha Sullivan, Hagerstown
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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Sen. Mike McKay explains Article V gathering in Williamsburg, VA
