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Kansas Senate Rejects Convention On Revising US Constitution

Stephen Koranda
/
KPR/File photo

On Thursday, the Kansas Senate narrowly turned back a push by conservatives to re-write portions of the U.S. Constitution.

Supporters wanting Kansas to join a list of states calling for a constitutional convention needed a two-thirds majority, or 27 votes. They got 22.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, was among the 16 senators voting “no.”

“A convention of the states to amend the Constitution would put unelected, unaccountable delegates in charge with the potential of re-writing our entire Constitution,” Hensley says.

Supporters say that overstates the dangers of a constitutional convention. They say amendments are needed to rein in federal spending and re-balance power between states and the federal government.

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Jim McLean is managing director of KMUW's Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio and KCUR covering health, education and politics in Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @jmcleanks.

 
To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.