DE Senate rejects Convention of States but could return

Dover, Del. – The Delaware State Senate rejected a resolution on Tuesday that would have Delaware join a convention of states, but legislators said there is still a chance for it to pass this session.

The start to Delaware’s General Assembly saw tempers flare when SCR 114 came onto the Senate Floor. The resolution calls for a convention of the states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution which allows states to propose constitutional amendments. Supporters say the measure would introduce term limits for congressional representatives and rein in federal powers and spending. Convention of States Action is a nonprofit grassroots effort championing the convention nationwide. Several supporters sat in on the session wearing t-shirts that read “We The People” and “Convention of States” hats and buttons.

COS Legislative Liaison to the Delaware team Ben Cassell said he was pleased that the measure got further than it did when it was introduced last year.

“Even though it was a tie, I mean, we had seven yes, seven no. And then seven no vote,” he said. However, he called those who abstained from voting “cowards.” “I’m being blunt because what American voters want is people to represent them, to vote.”

Though the measure did not pass, mostly on party lines, there are senators on both sides who believe the measure could succeed in the future.

“I think on both sides, there is some interest in doing something with that,” Minority Whip Sen. Brian Pettyjohn (R-District 19) said. “We all have some legitimate concerns with the federal government, whether it be, overreach, whether it be, spending, whether it be term limits.” Pettyjohn voted to pass the measure.

Sen. Kyra Hoffner (D-District 14), who had abstained from voting, said that there was definitely a possibility of it passing in Delaware.

“I think maybe 1 or 2 more times, we’re going to be there, and you’re going to have the majority of the people in this room voting for it,” she said.

However, Hoffner said amendments to the resolution could not continue to be added in order for those with concerns to agree. In order for the measure to pass, she said more clarity is needed so that Delaware could be in sync with other states.

“A lot of my constituents believe in this. They want this. I want to get there,” she said.

Sen. Bryant Richardson (R-District 21) is the sponsor for SCR 114 and Hoffner said she and others will work with Richardson to “see if we can get there before this term is over.”

34 states need to pass the resolution in order to call the convention. So far, 19 other states have passed the resolution and 11 other states will consider it this year at the time of publication.