February 21, 2024
To Whom It May Concern,
In the year 1979, the Arizona legislature passed SJR1002 and thereby submitted its application to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the U.S. Constitution compelling Congress to call a convention for proposing a fiscal responsibility amendment once the required 34 states have submitted similar applications.
As of 1979, greater than the required 34 states had submitted such applications, yet Congress has never responded. By failing to record and to count these applications and to call a convention, Congress has violated its constitutional mandate and subverted the states’ equal power to propose constitutional amendments.
To enforce the states’ equal Article V power, we hereby join with the Utah legislature in our readiness to work with our fellow states in taking action, including potentially joining with other states in filing a Declaratory Judgement action to compel action by Congress under Article V.
Respectfully,
Warren Petersen
President, Arizona State Senate
Ben Toma
Speaker, Arizona House of Representatives