Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls himself a conservative.
Well, my understanding of conservatism traditionally has meant minimalist government; keep government quiet; don’t upset the status quo; let it ride, man.
Not these days.
Abbott has issued a seriously proactive call to remake the U.S. Constitution. He has called for a constitutional convention to craft some serious amendments to the nation’s governing document. They include:
- Disallowing federal law from regulating activities wholly within a single state.
- Requiring a balanced federal budget.
- Providing a way to override decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court.
All told, Abbott has offered nine proposals.
My favorite one involves the highest court in the land.
Abbott thinks two-thirds of the states should be empowered to overturn decisions by the Supreme Court. Interesting, yes?
I believe conservatives also believe in what’s called “strict construction” of the Constitution. They want to adhere to what the Founders wrote when they created the federal government.
One of the provisions they allowed was a totally independent federal judiciary. What Gov. Abbott is proposing — in my humble view — removes that a large portion of the independence envisioned by the founders. It puts ultimate authority in court decisions in the hands of state legislatures.
I am hard-pressed to find a more remarkable reversal of the traditional definition of “conservative government.”
What’s being proposed and discussed these days is a reform movement that puts “liberal activism” to shame.
John, you seem to have no idea what conservatism really is and repeatedly misrepresent the philosophy. The logical conservative reponse to an activist, expansive federal government is to attempt to roll back federal powers to the original limited powers of the federal government outlined in the Constitution. All of these proposals, some good others not, are limit or reduce the powers of the federal government, its bureaucracies and federal courts. Please point to ONE of these proposals that would result in more power resting with the federal government.
The nine proposed amendments are:
· Prohibit Congress from regulating activity that occurs wholly within one State.
· Require Congress to balance its budget.
· Prohibit administrative agencies—and the unelected bureaucrats that staff them—from creating federal law.
· Prohibit administrative agencies—and the unelected bureaucrats that staff them—from preempting state law.
· Allow a two-thirds majority of the States to override a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
· Require a seven-justice super-majority vote for U.S. Supreme Court decisions that invalidate a democratically enacted law.
· Restore the balance of power between the federal and state governments by limiting the former to the powers expressly delegated to it in the Constitution.
· Give state officials the power to sue in federal court when federal officials overstep their bounds.
· Allow a two-thirds majority of the States to override a federal law or regulation.