Roosevelt supports U.S. Amendments Convention

The Roosevelt County Commission on Tuesday passed a resolution calling on the New Mexico Legislature to petition for a convention of the states.

The action falls under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

Roosevelt County became the fifth New Mexico county to adopt the resolution, joining Hidalgo, Colfax, Otero, and Catron, according to Myles Culbertson, the Dona Ana County man spearheading the drive.

“Actually, Roosevelt was a county that took the initiative pretty much on their own. Catron was the same way,” Culbertson said Wednesday.

Roosevelt County’s support was not unanimous. Commissioner Dennis Lopez called the proposal “a waste” in opposing it.

Culbertson describes himself as “mostly retired” from state service,

“I was director of the Livestock Board in Albuquerque. Some partners and I have some business we work on. I do some consulting work and business strategizing,” Culbertson said.

Culbertson, who lives west of Las Cruces, believes it’s time for new amendments to the Constitution.

“(W)hat I am calling for is applying Article V to propose amendments,” Culbertson said. He said 34 states are required to call for the action; 19 have passed resolutions so far in support of the move.

“Article V proposes two ways to amend the Constitution.

One is where Congress proposes the amendment, then it must be ratified by three-fourths of the states. The other is where the state legislatures, at least two-thirds of them, would call for a convention. Legislatures would select delegates to go to the convention where amendments would be developed and then sent out for ratification,” Culbertson said.

Culbertson said Congress is refusing to act on needed business.

“The framers created two ways to propose amendments because they knew Congress might refuse to act on needed amendments,” Culbertson said.

Culbertson is calling for amendments to:

n Put fiscal restraints on the federal government.

“Congress refuses to limit itself on spending. We have a $1 trillion deficit; some people are predicting it will go to $2 trillion,” Culbertson said.

n Put limitations on the power and jurisdictions of the federal government.

“The limitations on the federal government’s overreach are not defined. There are unfunded mandates,” Culbertson said.

Culbertson noted an example is the Forest Service doing a controlled burn in the Las Vegas area.

“People warned them but they took the stand ‘no one can tell us what to do’ and 341,000 acres of forest land was destroyed in that area. Destroyed a way of life,” Culbertson said.

n Enact term limits.

“I don’t think the founders of the country ever imagined the rise of professional politicians, professional bureaucrats,” Culbertson said.

Culbertson noted the length of term limits will be determined by the convention delegates.

“There’s nothing off the table,” Culbertson said.

Culbertson said he believes the Curry County government will soon be on board with supporting the action.

“Every county in New Mexico is in our sights. We are working with county commissions because they are often closer to their constituents. They also have the standing politically that the Legislature has to listen to what the county is saying,” Culbertson said.