September to be busy month for Convention of States activists across Kansas

Article - 5 minute read

Updated 09/06/2022

Convention of States activists are working hard to spread their message in Kansas. Their mission is to get 84 or more Kansas House of Representative legislatures to agree to pass a Convention of States resolution, also known as an Article V Convention.

One place Kansans will be able to meet with volunteers for Convention of States is at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson where they will have a booth in Sunflower II Exhibit Hall.

“We’ve been at the State Fair for a number of years,” said COS volunteer (Regional Captain) in SW Kansas John Bahr. “We’ve found that that’s a great place to get our word out to a tremendous number of people…. A couple of State Fairs ago we had over 2,000 petitions signed. Last year, we had over 3,000. We’re hoping for that many or more this year.”

Mainstream media, and media even here in Kansas, have covered the topic of a Convention of States, yet many outlets incorrectly refer to the convention as a “Constitutional Convention.” A Constitutional Convention has taken place before in Philadelphia between the months of May and September 1787 to address the problems of the weak federal government under the Articles of Confederation. After the necessary ratifications, the Constitution came into effect in 1789. A Constitutional Convention was used to create the Constitution that has served as the basis for the U.S. Government ever since. In this important document, our Founding Fathers wrote Article V, which allows We the People to take back power from the federal government should it become oppressive.

“[Convention of States] was set aside as a protection in case we see what’s going on now with our government getting out of control,” said Kansas State Fair Event Coordinator for Convention of States Diana Wade. “We want to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government. We want to limit the jurisdiction of the federal government. And we want to limit the terms in office for federal officials. So, what we can do is call a convention. This is answerable to We the People…. We’re the ones taking our government back. Back in control of where it’s supposed to be. Implementing term limits—when you get somebody who’s been in there for 35, 40, 50 years, how much are they really answering back to us? How much are they really in touch with what we want when we see all these bills that are getting passed and causing more and more inflation? This is a solution to a broken Washington.”   

Currently, 19 states have passed a Convention of States resolution including Alaska, Arizona, Utah, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Indiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, and South Carolina. An additional 15 states are needed before a convention can be called.

Kansas did vote on a Convention of States earlier this year but fell short of the 2/3 vote to pass the resolution, receiving 76 of the 84 needed votes. 

“I know there are people who have said they are afraid of a runaway convention,” Bahr said. “That’s the story that George Soros funded groups—a lot of them are pushing that story. However, there are numerous firewalls to keep that from ever happening. Without going into all the details, if someone is still not convinced, I could say, ‘Okay, what do you think would be the worst thing that could come out of this convention?’ Most people say an amendment to change the second amendment…. So, say I’m wrong and all those firewalls failed. A nefarious group came in and repeals the second amendment. It goes back to the State Legislatures. Do you really think you can get 38 states, both the House and Senate—with the exception of Nebraska which is unicameral—do you think you could get 38 states to agree to that? I am more concerned of not doing anything to curtail our current runaway government than by any possibility of a runaway convention.”

Bahr also said he’s looked at different states and how they selected their committeemen and the policing that went into it including how they could be recalled, replaced, and, in some occasions, even charged with a felony for voting on anything outside the three items in the resolution. These items being as Wade mentioned above: Imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government; limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government; and creating term limits for Congress and federal officials.

Due to the current predicament of our country, many grassroots activists in Kansas have come together to push forward and ensure the passing of a Convention of States in Kansas in 2023.

On September 5, Convention of States had a float in the Labor Day Parade in Hoisington.

From the 8-10, Convention of States will have a booth out at Old Settler Days in Downtown Olathe

From the 9-10, Convention of States will have a table set up at the Topeka Gun and Knife show

From the 9-18, Convention of States will have a booth set up at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson

From 24-25, Convention of States will have a booth set up at Flint Hills Praisefest in Cico Park, Manhattan

This is all on top of the usual monthly grassroots meetings held for Lawrence, Western Johnson County, District 6, Topeka, Wichita, and East Olathe.

Convention of States activists are recruiting workers from their volunteers and are encouraging folks going to these events to stop at the COS booths and introduce COS to their friends and family. 

“For a number of years now, I don’t think it’s any big secret that there are a lot of folks that believe the same way I do, that our country is in big trouble,” Bahr said. “Not only from a corruption standpoint, but from a spending standpoint.”

Kansans who support a Convention of States are also doing a Blockwalk Across Kansas. To learn more about this, click here.

To get more information on all the above events, click here.