Former lawmakers: LR 14 a threat to our state and nation

A measure that will likely be debated by lawmakers next week – perhaps as early as Monday – threatens our state and nation’s ability to respond to emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, three former state lawmakers wrote in today’s Lincoln Journal Star.

The measure – LR 14 – would have Nebraska join a list of states calling for a Constitutional Convention. Many proponents of LR 14 want to call a convention to pass a federal balanced budget amendment, which would prevent the federal government from taking on debt.

But the former legislators – Kathy Campbell, Mike Gloor and John Harms – wrote that being able to take on debt in times of emergency allows the country to bolster unemployment benefits and provide other forms of needed aid that helps keep our country and our citizens afloat.

“While reasonable people can disagree about the proper level of debt our country should have, being able to take on debt has been essential to providing needed federal relief during this unprecedented moment in our history,” the senators wrote.

The senators are members of OpenSky’s Legislative Alumni Advisory Committee and Campbell and Harms also are members of OpenSky’s Board of Directors. You can read their full opinion piece here.

LR 14 also was the focus of a Thursday OpenSky webinar featuring David Super, a Georgetown Law Professor who specializes in Constitutional Law; and Judi Caler, the Article V Issues Director for Eagle Forum of California. Super and Caler discussed the potential ramifications of a constitutional convention. Watch a recording of the webinar here.