Let Arizona Vote: AZ Senator Biggs Thwarting Convention of States Vote

Arizona Senate President Andy Biggs is blocking a vote on the very popular Convention of States Application (SCR 1016) which calls for an Article V Convention to propose amendments to the Constitution that would limit the scope and power of the federal government. 

Here’s what happened.  

The bill passed the Arizona House by a large majority. Biggs, however, has always been opposed to the idea of an Article V Amending convention, even though stalwart conservative pundits and thinkers like George Will, Mark Levin, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glen Beck, and David Barton all support the idea.  Citing fears of a “runaway convention,” Biggs is apparently more comfortable continuing to let Congress and the President “runaway” with our liberties.

That’s why — when it moved to the Senate — Biggs tried to squash it by assigning it to multiple “kill” committees in the Senate.  Undaunted by Biggs’ procedural games, supporters moved the bill back to the House, where the bill passed again. Now, it’s back in the Senate, having passed committee hurdles through procedural maneuvers arranged by the bill’s sponsors. 

Biggs, however, refuses to let Arizona vote.  Though Biggs has been a steadfast voice for the citizens, his refusal to allow a vote puts his personal preference above the will of the people in his state.

No one is asking for Andy Biggs to support SCR 1016.  In fact, he should vote against it and argue his case in the marketplace of ideas.  But his heavy-handed approach of refusing to publicly addressed the issue and unilaterally decide for his whole state is straight out of Harry Reid’s playbook.   By refusing to allow his caucus and the full Senate to engage in floor debate or a vote, he is depriving the citizens of Arizona a full and fair hearing on the issue.  Today, Biggs is behaving like “King Biggs,” the ruler of the Arizona Senate and — by extension — all the people of Arizona. 

Time is running out.  Because the Senate’s session expires on Wednesday, April 23^rd, the shenanigans of Biggs might cause this bill to go unheard in the Senate. 

Here’s what he doesn’t understand.

The people of Arizona have expressed their support for SCR 1016 — through the House of Representatives — because they want to restrain the scope, jurisdiction, and power of the federal government.

Biggs should realize this.  Now that Arizonans are fed up with an arrogant government unwilling to listen to the people, they won’t stand for that kind of behavior at the state level either.

Let Arizona vote.

If you would like to encourage Sen. Biggs to do the right thing, email him at abiggs@azleg.gov or call him at 602-926-4371602-926-4371. Time is running out. 

Mark Meckler is the co-founder of the Convention of States Project.