Statement of Sen. Richard J. Gordon on Con-Ass

Last night, the members of the House of Representatives approved House Resolution No. 1109 with undue haste. The resolution calls on the members of Congress to convene for the purpose of considering proposals to amend or revise the Constitution, upon a vote of three-fourths of all the members of Congress.

Proposing amendments to, or revision of, the Constitution is not bad per se, but such brazen move in the eve of the last session day of Congress suggests a sinister plot in the works.

But they will not succeed. They cannot do it on their own. The Senate, as part of Congress, will not allow it. We will not allow the Senate's voice - and vote - on the matter of Charter Change be diminished or laid aside. The Supreme Court, to which judicial power has been vested, will not allow it. And definitely, the people, with whom sovereignty resides, will not allow such corruption of the Constitution.

Article XVII, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides that any amendment to - or revision of - the Constitution may be proposed by the Congress upon a vote of three-fourths of all its members. This constitutional provision should not be misconstrued as a provision where both Houses of Congress vote jointly. The Constitution, the fundamental law of our land, is very clear as when Congress may vote jointly, and this excludes Charter Change.

Charter Change must be done right - at the proper time, definitely after the May 2010 elections; for the right reasons, that is, for national interest, not personal and vested interests; and within the legal means under the Constitution.