Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proposes nine amendments to U.S. Constitution

AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott took fresh aim at the federal government Friday with a proposal to slash its powers through a national convention to amend the U.S. Constitution.

His proposal not only would rein in federal agencies’ oversight of Texas but dramatically change the way the U.S. Supreme Court works.

It comes after Republican anger over moves including President Obama’s action on issues including gun control and Supreme Court rulings on matters like gay marriage.

The idea would be difficult to accomplish. Thirty-four states would have to agree for a national convention to occur. The Texas Legislature would have to approve for the Lone Star State to join in such a call.

If the convention occurred and backed amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the changes would require ratification by 38 states.

Abbott’s idea follows a push for a national constitutional convention by other Republicans, but most of the talk has been about a balanced budget amendment.

"We are succumbing to the caprice of men that our Founders fought to escape," Abbott said in unveiling his plan to applause at a conference of the limited-government Texas Public Policy Foundation. “The cure to these problems will not come from Washington D.C. They must come from the states.”

Among Abbott’s proposals would be a requirement for a seven-justice super-majority vote of the U.S. Supreme Court for decisions that invalidate “a democratically enacted law.”

Further, it would allow U.S. Supreme Court decisions to be overridden by a two-thirds majority of states.

Among other ideas, he would prohibit administrative agencies from pre-empting state law.

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