Contact:
Krysta West
Communications Director
Senate Republican Office
(207) 287-1505
krysta.west@legislature.maine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUSTA – Two joint resolutions calling for a Constitutional Convention under Article V of the United States Constitution fell along party lines in the Maine Senate on Thursday, each passing with a vote of 17-16.

The first bill, HP 1232, would call a convention of states to consider an amendment to the US Constitution to impose congressional term limits. The second bill, HP 1251, would call a convention of states to consider an amendment to the US Constitution to require a balanced federal budget.

“I was  incredibly disappointed to see both of these important measures fall along partisan lines in the Maine Senate today, especially since these clearly aren’t partisan issues,” said Senator Paul Davis (R-Piscataquis). “Back in 1996, Maine voters passed a referendum to impose limits on our congressional delegation, and the bipartisan support of this measure carries through to today.

“Our national debt is out of control and both parties in Washington have failed to address this matter. Instead of limiting spending and managing the coffers in a responsible way, they have spent money from pension funds that don’t belong to them, borrowed money from foreign entities and printed more money, watering down the value of our dollar.

“It isn’t anyone sitting in power today that will pay the price for this poor management of federal resources – it’s our children and our children’s children, and that is simply unconscionable.”

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