It is with great pleasure we share that yesterday the Virginia House of Delegates passed both Convention of States actions HJ 3 and HB 1328!
Our team in Virginai did a fantastic job contacting their Delegates in support of the Convention of States resolution. It goes to show how citizens motivated for action really can succeed. Yesterday Virginia moved one step closer to joining the other states in calling for an Article V Convention of States.
Want your state to pass the Convention of States application? Signing our petition is one of the best ways to make that happens. Not only do we add your name to the list of hundreds of thousands of Convention of States supporters, but we also send a copy of your signed petition directly to your state legislators.
The petitions were a huge part of our success in the Virginia House, and they've been effective in every state since we started using them. Click the button below to sign the petition, and be sure to include your address! We won't use your address for anything other than identifying which state house district you live in so we can send your petition to the correct legislators.
If you live in Virginia...
The message below is straight from the Virginia State Director. If you live in Virginia, we need your help to get our resolution past the finish line!
Now I must ask you to do the following things.
- Find your Delegate and Senator’s phone numbers and email addresses at Who’s My Legislator (enter your address at the top, right).
First, we need to thank our Delegates for voted for our Convention of States HJ 3 and the companion bill HB 1328. The voting results are at the bottom of this email. If your Delegate voted “Yea”, please call / email his/her office and express your appreciation for their vote to call for a Convention of States to reign in the federal government.
Second, I must ask you to call and email your Senator now. With our victory in the House, our attention now turns to the Senate. The vote will be TIGHT. Our volunteers have been working diligently to enlist Senators but several are still on the fence. Please call and email your Senator now. Ask them to vote YES for the Article V Convention of States resolution HJ 3 and HB 1328.
Send your Senator a short email now. You can block / copy the short template I’ve provided below and tailor it with your personal message.
Subject: Please vote YES for HJ 3 and HB 1328, Convention of States
Dear Senator,
I ask you to vote YES for HJ 3 and HB 1328, Convention of States!
Virginia’s House of Delegates just passed HJ 3 calling for an Article V Convention of States to rein in the over-reaching federal government and restore our country. They also passed the companion bill, HB 1328, which adds additional safeguards by imposing criminal penalties to convention meeting delegates who violate the instructions you give them.
I ask you to exercise the power our country’s Founders gave to you, our state legislators, and call for a Convention of States to propose amendments that will impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials.
Please vote YES for HJ 3 and HB 1328!
Sincerely,
[your name]
*******
Thank you for helping Virginia move forward in restoring our country and safeguarding the freedoms our country’s Founders sacrificed so much to give to us.
Your COS Virginia Action Team.
*******
See how your Delegate voted, below.
HJ 3 United States Constitution; application for a convention of the states.
02/16/16 House: VOTE: ADOPTION (52-Y 47-N)
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?161+sum+HJ3
YEAS--Albo, Anderson, Bell, Robert B., Bloxom, Byron, Campbell, Cline, Cole, Collins, Cox, Davis, Dudenhefer, Edmunds, Fariss, Farrell, Fowler, Freitas, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Head, Helsel, Hugo, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, LaRock, Leftwich, LeMunyon, Lingamfelter, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Massie, Miller, Minchew, Miyares, Morris, O'Bannon, O'Quinn, Orrock, Peace, Pogge, Poindexter, Ransone, Robinson, Stolle, Villanueva, Ware, Webert, Wilt, Mr. Speaker--52.
NAYS--Adams, Aird, Austin, Bagby, Bell, John J., Bell, Richard P., Boysko, Bulova, Carr, Filler-Corn, Heretick, Herring, Hester, Hodges, Hope, Ingram, James, Keam, Kory, Krizek, Landes, Levine, Lindsey, Lopez, Marshall, R.G., Mason, McClellan, McQuinn, Murphy, Pillion, Plum, Price, Rasoul, Rush, Sickles, Simon, Spruill, Sullivan, Taylor, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Watts, Wright, Yancey, Yost--47.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--Morefield--1.
*******
HB 1328 Unfaithful delegates; constitutional convention, penalty.
02/16/16 House: VOTE: PASSAGE #2 (56-Y 43-N)
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?161+sum+HB1328
YEAS--Albo, Anderson, Austin, Bell, Robert B., Bloxom, Byron, Cline, Cole, Cox, Davis, Dudenhefer, Edmunds, Fariss, Farrell, Fowler, Freitas, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Head, Helsel, Hodges, Hugo, Ingram, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, LaRock, Leftwich, LeMunyon, Lingamfelter, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Miller, Minchew, Miyares, Morris, O'Bannon, O'Quinn, Orrock, Peace, Pillion, Pogge, Poindexter, Ransone, Rasoul, Robinson, Rush, Villanueva, Ware, Webert, Wilt, Wright, Yost, Mr. Speaker--56.
NAYS--Adams, Aird, Bagby, Bell, John J., Bell, Richard P., Boysko, Bulova, Campbell, Carr, Collins, Filler-Corn, Heretick, Herring, Hester, Hope, James, Keam, Kory, Krizek, Landes, Levine, Lindsey, Lopez, Marshall, R.G., Mason, Massie, McClellan, McQuinn, Murphy, Plum, Price, Sickles, Simon, Spruill, Stolle, Sullivan, Taylor, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Watts, Yancey--43.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--Morefield--1.