What EXACTLY Can Only Be Achieved Through A Constitutional Convention?

[Rick M.]

We're hearing lots of vague ideas but very few actual proposals. Leaving aside, for the moment, that we can amend the State Constitution any time we want without the need of a Constitutional Convention, let's look at the actual changes we want to see if we get a ConCon.

So rather than "Improve Education" say something specific like:

"Insert paragraph giving each family a school voucher for each child which can be used at the school of their choice (public or private). Each child's voucher shall be equal to the amount of the DOE yearly budget divided by the number of school-age students in the state."

Let's not discuss the pros and cons - let's just list the things we ABSOLUTELY NEED a constitutional convention for:

I'll start it off:

1. Delete Article XII Hawaiian Affairs

2. Rewrite ARTICLE XI Section 7 Water Resources to give water ownership to the landowner and to remove the governmental interference in how the water is used.

3. Delete ARTICLE XI Section 8 Nuclear Energy (ban)

4. Add a section to Article XIII (Collective Bargaining) saying, "No employee shall be required to pay dues to a union as a condition of employment"

5. Delete the second paragraph of Article XIII (Collective Bargaining) to eliminate the right of government employees to unionize.

[Marty]

OK, this conversation has strayed away from the basic question.

As for "what can only be achieved through a constitutional convention", if you check out the Education group, they have several ideas and an amendment draft, but until a ConCon is called and delegates meet, this is only a place for interested people to put out ideas.

Rick, as for amending "the State Constitution any time we want", the only way to amend the Constitution is: by ConCon with people voting to approve changes; or Legislature submitting and approving measure to be submitted to people to vote on. And everyone knows the majority party won't put forth anything that will diminish their power.

Maybe we can add initiative as a way to amend the Constitution, so that we won’t need to have another ConCon.

[Peter Kay]

Marty,

Thanks for bringing us back on-topic. I would add that HawaiiConCon.org is not just a place for interested people to put forth ideas.

I believe that this site can become a focal point for the ConCon itself. It can be where all the key issues are brought up/out into the public. It can be where potential delegates (assuming we have a ConCon) can run and post their views. It be the place where the ConCon internal workings are published to the public and allow people to actually participate in the process.

Those are my hopes & dreams and with folks like you & the other members, we can make it happen!

[Auhea]

We need a new State Government. End OHA