Sen. Rand Paul asks Kentucky lawmakers to stand up to Washington

Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google

By Elizabeth Donatelli - bio | email

FRANKFORT, KY (WAVE) - It would be the first time in the history of this country and a move that could change the United States constitution. Kentucky's U.S. Sen. Rand Paul was in Frankfort asking state legislators to vote for his plan and flex their muscles against Washington.

"The deficit is consuming," said Paul.

His remarks to legislators sounded like one of his campaign speeches. Now a Senator, he's trying to put that campaign promise into action with the help of fellow Kentuckians.

"(The) state legislature, to my mind, needs to stand up and take power back to Washington and bring it back home to Kentucky," said Paul, who testified before the Kentucky Senate State and Local Government Committee.

Kentucky's junior senator asked them to pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 134. It calls for a constitutional convention, which would allow delegates to modify the U.S. constitution.

"My prediction is there will never be a constitutional convention in this country, but if you get close, you will force them to do the right thing and they will vote for it," said Paul.

Paul is assuming Congress will get on board and pass the amendment, rather than allowing a constitutional convention. Critics say it's not worth the risk.

Phil Moffett, a Republican running for governor, supports a balanced budget amendment, but thinks there are other ways to do it. He spoke to others against it in the rotunda after the committee meeting.

"If we open a constitutional convention, there's no limitation to what they can change in the constitution," said Moffett.

The bill moved to Senate floor within two hours of passing out of committee 7-3.

Some lawmakers who voted against it are worried that Kentucky would get less federal money and like Moffett, that delegates could get unlimited power over the Founding Father's document.

"We may call a constitutional convention and the next thing you know, they are re-writing the whole constitution and that's a great fear I think each and every one of us have," said Sen. Walter Blevins (D-Elliott County).

Senate President David Williams (R-Burkesville) said 22 other states have passed similar resolutions, but Kentucky is the first to "limit" the scope of the convention.

The resolution passed out of the Senate 22-16. All Democrats voted against it. All Republicans, but one, voted for it. Sen. Julie Denton (R-Louisville) voted against it saying she has concerns "where it could go" and what it could "mutate" into.