Mississippi lawmakers seek US constitutional convention

Mississippi has become the 15th state to ask Congress to call a national “convention of states” to try to amend the U.S. Constitution to limit the powers of the federal government. Supporters say a convention would focus on reducing federal spending. Opponents, however, say they worry a convention could try to limit the judiciary or take voting rights from women or African-Americans. Mississippi House members argued more than an hour Wednesday before voting 69-46 to adopt a resolution that cleared the state Senate last week. As in the Senate, most House Republicans voted in favor and most Democrats voted against the proposal.