The House approved a resolution calling for a convention to amend the constitution to limit the federal government’s power. It passed it with 76 to 42 votes. Article V of the constitution says that the document may be amended if Congress agrees to a two thirds vote in both Senate and House, or if the convention is requested by two-thirds the nation’s state legislatures. The latter option was presented by Dan Eubanks (Republican from Walls), on Thursday. House Concurrent Resolution 56 requests a convention to address federal government’s “crushing nation debt,” which was created by “improper, imprudent spending.” Eubanks stated that if we love our country, it is up to us to take action. “Because Washington has, regardless of whether it is under a Republican-Democratic leadership, proven itself unwilling or incapable of action,” the resolution states. It will join a few other states that have requested a convention for this reason since 2014. These include Georgia, Florida and Alabama as well as Tennessee, Indiana, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana and Oklahoma. Each state filed similar resolutions asking for amendments to impose fiscal restrictions on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction, and limit the terms of office for federal officials. The Tea Party-led Convention of the States Project uses similar language in Mississippi’s resolution. It is calling for a convention to address the above reasons. Each state is listed in the list of states that have passed Convention of the States resolutions. Each state would send delegates to their home countries and make amendments if 34 states request a convention. To become effective, these amendments must be ratified by at least three-quarters of the states. In years past, similar resolutions were filed by the Mississippi Legislature. The conservative, Florida-based Balanced Budget Amendment Taskforce lists Mississippi as one of 28 states that has submitted resolutions to amend the balanced budget. The 2018 Mississippi resolution states that convention delegates cannot propose amendments on “any other topic whatsoever.” But Democrats expressed doubts about this prospect. Many were concerned about the repercussions of a convention, warning that it could lead to “runaway trains” that result in state-harming changes. Rep. John Hines (D-Greenville) told Eubanks that “this is a bad resolution.” Rep. Bryant Clark (D-Pickens) said he understood the resolution’s purpose and was “not necessarily opposed to it.” However, the convention could open the doors for more changes than originally intended. Clark stated, “You claimed you’re trying prevent runaway spending but you might be opening Pandora’s Box right now in our nation.” Clark said, “Don’t think this is something you should wait until things become a little simpler?”