The New York State Conservative Party’s executive committee, at its first meeting of the new year, passed a resolution calling on voters to reject this November’s ballot question calling for a Constitutional Convention. “It is important for voters to understand that the history of holding Constitutional Conventions proves they
are a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money that fails to accomplish what supporters claim,” said Chairman Michael R. Long. The text of the resolution follows:

Resolution, in opposition to a Constitutional Convention, presented and adopted by the members of the State Executive Committee on Saturday, January 7, 2017:

Whereas the New York State Constitution, since 1846, requires that voters decide every twenty years if there should be a Constitutional Convention to amend the New York State Constitution;

Whereas voters will have the opportunity to decide in the upcoming November, 2017 general election if such a Constitutional Convention shall take place;

Whereas the last four Constitutional Conventions were a carbon copy of legislative sessions and the majority of delegates were influential legislators;

Whereas the delegates that were influential legislators were able to collect a salary as a delegate and a legislator;

Whereas the past Constitutional Conventions were driven by personal agendas and special interest groups;

Whereas voters have failed to pass 7 of the 9 Constitutional Conventions since the first Constitutional Convention in 1776-1777;

Whereas legislative members have and will continue to present voters another means of amending the New York State Constitution without the undo expense of holding a Constitutional Convention;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the New York State Conservative Party urges the voters of New York State to vote NO to a Constitutional Convention that would convene in Albany beginning April of 2019.