Why Mass. Democrats are clearing out decades-old calls for a new constitution
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Two Massachusetts legislative heavy hitters are racing to rescind decades-old resolutions they say conservative groups could weaponize to force a new constitutional convention.
Why it matters: The pair, who represent both sides of the Democrat-dominated General Court, warn that conservatives could try to rewrite the constitution and upend fundamental rights and protections.
Threat level: The move would block conservatives from using outdated Bay State resolutions toward the 34-state threshold needed to kick off a rewrite convention.
- An Article V convention could open the entire U.S. Constitution to unpredictable revisions.
State of play: Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem and House Assistant Majority Leader Alice Peisch are pushing through a bill to rescind past calls from Massachusetts to open up a convention.
- Massachusetts would be the 17th state with no active Article V petitions.
Flashback: Massachusetts still has active resolutions dating to 1977 (on an abortion ban) and 1931 (on repealing prohibition) that Peisch and Creem say could be used by Trump-aligned groups to help trigger a convention.
What they're saying: "Massachusetts will defend constitutional stability, protect fundamental rights, and stand strong for our democracy," Creem and Peisch wrote in a statement.
The big picture: Conservative activists who want to convene a convention because of the national debt have been trying to leverage dormant state petitions based on past issues.
- The calls for a convention have no expiration date unless they're legally rescinded.
Catch up quick: Sixteen states, including Connecticut, New York and Illinois, have rescinded prior convention resolutions.
- A similar move by Massachusetts would create what anti-convention activists are calling a "firewall" against constitutional rewrites.
What's next: Expect both chambers to act this week and put the resolution-rescinding resolution on Gov. Maura Healey's desk.