A Harvard law professor who is pushing a U. S. constitutional convention has told Illinois lawmakers there are built-in protections against extremes.
During a committee hearing, State Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) asked, “These delegates … can say, we think that the best way to address Citizens United is to get rid of the First Amendment – is that a possiblity that can come out of this convention?”
Lawrence Lessig agreed it’s possible, and then posed a question of his own: “Can you imagine 38 states ratifying that? And, I would suggest, it’s impossible to imagine that there wouldn’t be at least 13 of them that would stop that amendment.”
Lessig, already involved in a “Mayday PAC” he initiated on May 1 to change campaign finance, wants a new constitutional convention to take in possible amendments.
SJR 42 has passed the House Judiciary committee.