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Academy of States 1.0: Fiscal Sustainability I

The Academy of States is a collaborative effort of leading advocates who desire that our several state legislatures would bring reform to our federal government through a convention of the states authorized and empowered by Artice V of the U.S. Constitution.

 

July 30, 2021      ~      Salt Lake City, Utah

Dozens of state legislators gathered in Salt Lake City on July 30, 2021 to learn about Article V's state convention mechanism for proposing constitutional amendments, and how it can be used to impose fiscal sanity on Washington. Our panel of experts included:

  • Ken Ivory, former Utah State Representative and Chair of both the Convention of States Project’s 2016 Williamsburg Convention and the 2017 Phoenix Convention

  • David Walker: former Comptroller General and CEO of the US Government Accountability Office

  • Professor Rob Natelson: Senior Fellow of Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Independence Institute

  • Dr. Barry Poulson: University of Colorado Economics Professor Emeritus

  • David Biddulph: co-founder of the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force and Let Us Vote for a BBA

  • Bob Carlstrom: President of AMAC Action, the lobbying arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens

  • Congresswoman and former New Mexico State Representative Yvette Harrell

  • South Carolina State Senator Rex Rice


“This will be the greatest hands-on civics lesson of our lifetime."

Ken Ivory
 

Resources

 

PDF Handout

This 174-page document includes all the resources and handouts from the academy.

It includes bookmarks to provide an easily navigable menu.

 

Video Q&A from the Fiscal Responsibility Academy

All links open on YouTube

Is a Balanced Budget/Fiscal Responsibility Amendment Necessary for a Sustainable Economic Future? 

The Honorable David Walker, Former US Comptroller General

Can a Balanced Budget/Fiscal Responsibility Amendment be Enforced? 

Panel Discussion

Would a Balanced Budget/Fiscal Responsibility Amendment Necessarily Result in Higher Taxes? 

Panel Discussion

Can Article V be Safely Used to Solve the Federal Debt Crisis? 

Professor Robert Natelson, Senior Fellow at The Independence Institute

What Happens if Congress Refuses to Exercise its Ministerial Duty to “Call” an Article V Convention?  Professor Robert Natelson, Senior Fellow at The Independence Institute

Are Constitutional Amendments Effective? 

Professor Robert Natelson, Senior Fellow at The Independence Institute 

What Legal Protections can be Added by the States to Ensure Article V Conventions cannot "Run Away?" 

Professor Robert Natelson, Senior Fellow at The Independence Institute 

What is the History and Significance of the State Convention Mode of Ratification? 

David Biddulph, Co-founder of the Let Us Vote Foundation 

How Close is the Count for Calling an Article V Convention? 

Professor Robert Natelson, Senior Fellow at The Independence Institute 

What are the Leading Proposals to Guide a Balanced Budget/Fiscal Responsibility Amendment?

 

Who has the power to impose accountability on Congress? 

Bob Carlstrom, President, AMAC Action

Concluding Remarks and the Significance of the Phoenix Correspondence Commission 

Ken Ivory, Moderator/Tom Llewellyn, BBA Planning Convention Commissioner 

Article V and a Balanced Budget Amendment 

Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (NM)

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