RI Citizens for Responsible Government launches campaign to defeat Constitutional Convention

“A Constitutional Convention poses a direct threat to established civil rights, with the potential to introduce amendments that could undermine protections currently afforded under RI state law..."

From a press release:

Rhode Island Citizens for Responsible Government, a diverse and growing coalition of Rhode Island individuals and organizations, held a press conference today to launch its campaign to defeat a Constitutional Convention, which will be Question 1 on the ballot in this November’s general election. The coalition cited several reasons why they are opposed to a Constitutional Convention.

Here’s the video. James Parisi, Field Representative and Lobbyist for the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, acted as emcee:

“A Constitutional Convention poses a direct threat to established civil rights, with the potential to introduce amendments that could undermine protections currently afforded under Rhode Island state law,” said coalition Chair Vimala Phongsavanh, who is also Senior Director of External Affairs of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “The influence of out-of-state special interests, empowered to spend without limits, further jeopardizes the integrity of our democratic process, potentially swaying outcomes away from the will of the people and towards narrow ideological agendas. A convention would also cost the state millions of dollars. The economic burden placed on taxpayers to fund a process that could ultimately erode established civil rights and democratic principles is alarming and underscores the outdated nature of the convention. 

“Women and birthing people should be especially concerned about a Constitutional Convention because ballot measures have been used disproportionately across the country to impact and restrict reproductive rights,” continued Phongsavanh. “The 1986 Constitutional Convention in Rhode Island quickly spiraled from ‘good government’ to abortion politics. This is not the way to debate and decide these issues.”

“We can not let wealthy individuals and corporations buy our Constitution,” said Patrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “A Constitutional Convention puts our Constitution up for sale. With voter initiatives, deep-pocketed special interest groups and wealthy individuals distort issues and hijack local campaigns. Rhode Island does not need a constitutional convention to change our governance. Constitutional changes may be done, and have been done in the past, by questions placed on the ballot by the General Assembly. A Constitutional Convention is expensive, and our money can be better spent elsewhere.”

“The 1986 Constitutional Convention may be most known for its attack on abortion rights, but amendments coming out of that convention also had a severe impact on other fundamental freedoms, including the right to bail and voting rights,” said Steven Brown, Executive Director of the ACLU of Rhode Island. “We should learn from this history and recognize that another Convention could roll back or stifle LGBTQ+ and other minority rights.

“While our opponents claim a constitutional convention could improve our governmental structure, we believe that, just like the 1986 convention, it is almost certain to serve as a vehicle for socially divisive amendments,” continued Brown. “Passing a constitutional convention will lead to disastrous results for Rhode Islanders. This is why we stand against calling a Convention.”

“Across the country, issues like reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, worker rights, senior citizen rights, and immigrant rights, have become fodder for expensive statewide campaigns mounted by well-funded, out-of-state special interests,” said Awilda Reinoso Lopez, Policy Associate at the Latino Policy Institute. “We are gravely concerned that those who would be elected in a small turn-out, a special election will not reflect the wishes or diversity of the LGBTQ+, minority, and other potentially impacted communities. A Constitutional Convention would allow for big money to come in and distort the issues right here in Rhode Island.”

The Constitutional Convention question is posed to Rhode Island voters every ten years. Voters have rejected a Constitutional Convention the last three times it was on the ballot. The last time a Convention was approved and convened was 38 years ago in 1986.

Coalition members include Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, ACLU of Rhode Island, RI AFL-CIO, RI National Organization of Women, The Womxn Project, RI Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Latino Policy Institute, RI Commission for Human Rights, Center for Justice, Fuerza Laboral, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), AFSCME, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, National Education Association Rhode Island, RI Building and Construction Trades Council, SEIU District 1199, Working Families Power, RI Black Business Association, Providence Central Labor Council, United Nurses and Allied Professionals, UFCW Local 328, RI Atheists, Humanists of RI, Women's Health & Education Fund, RI Alliance for Retired Americans, Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance, Black Lives Matter RI PAC, DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), Open Doors, NAACP Providence Branch, RI National Association of Social Workers, Olneyville Neighborhood Association, RIC AFT (RIC Faculty Union), PSA@RIC (RIC Professional Staff Union), Cranston Teachers Alliance, Warwick Teachers Union, RIAFT/R (Retiree Chapter), and more.  

For more information about this campaign, visit www.RejectQuestion1.com.

Here’s a History of Constitutional Conventions in Rhode Island.