Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio says a second convention of states to amend the Constitution and restore limited government could help the United States government return to its original roots as a Republic, as the founding fathers intended.
“This method of amending our Constitution has become necessary today because of Washington’s refusal to place restrictions on itself,” Rubio wrote in a USA Today op-ed Thursday morning.
His proposed plan would mimic the Constitutional Convention, and attempt to give power back to the American people in their “defense against the over bearing federal government.” But he cautioned that the amendment process should be approached with caution, and remain limited to those actions which would reduce the size and scope of the federal government. He also said it’s important to prevent special interests from taking over the convention.
The Florida senator suggested creating term limits on Congress or the Supreme Court or creating a balanced budget requirement as a place to start the amendment process.
“Keeping [a republic] has never been easy, and it will not be easy in our time,” Rubio wrote. “Our republic is under siege by the Washington establishment in both parties. But by working together through a convention of states, our people and our next president can keep our republic, strengthen it and save the American dream for the next generation.”
