The fight over rescinding Utah's call for a constitutional convention to adopt a federal balanced budget amendment is on again.
With the same coalition as last year - GOP conservatives and Democrats - the House passed a resolution Tuesday rescinding the call, with both members of the coalition saying a constitutional convention could run amok and take away the rights of citizens.The argument that three-fourths of all state legislatures must approve of anything a constitutional convention does - and so there are plenty of safeguards - fell on deaf ears.
Last year, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a strong supporter of a constitutional convention - because, he says, Congress doesn't have the willpower to impose a balanced budget amendment on itself - had to fly out to Utah to turn the Utah House around on the issue.
Hatch is scheduled to appear before lawmakers later this week. If he can't turn the House's vote again, he'll likely plead with state senators not to rescind Utah's call.