Right on Crime today announced the addition of a respected conservative activist who is committed to conservative criminal justice reform as outlined in its Statement of Principles. The newest signatory to this movement is Mark Meckler, president of Citizens for Self-Governance.
Citizens for Self-Governance launched the Convention of States to propose amendments to the Constitution. Article V of the Constitution permits two-thirds of the states to submit an application for a convention to propose amendments. Proposed amendments would be to curb overreaching federal control of the regulatory process and state decision-making, and to reign in irresponsible spending. Mr. Meckler co-founded the movement with Michael Farris, General Counsel for Alliance for Defending Freedom. He is leading a fifty-state grassroots movement with former U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Jim DeMint (R-SC) to secure enough states to agree to a convention. To date, twelve states have agreed to a convention. Proposed amendments would have to be ratified by a vote of three-fourths of U.S. states.
Right on Crime is a national campaign of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, in partnership with the American Conservative Union Foundation and Justice Fellowship that supports fighting crime, prioritizing victims, and protecting taxpayers. The movement to reform underperforming and wasteful criminal justice programs had its origins in Texas in 2005. Its success has been duplicated and continues to serve as a model for effective policies around the country.
In recent years, states like Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, South Dakota and Georgia have led the way in implementing correctional reforms that save tax dollars and protect the public.
“We are privileged to have Mark Meckler join as a signatory to the Right on Crime Statement of Principles,” said Marc Levin, Policy Director of Right on Crime. “Widely credited as one of the originators of the tea party movement, Mark brings a deep commitment to both conservative principles and criminal justice reform. I am delighted that Mark will join our roster of some of the nation’s most respected conservative leaders. We look forward to him being a voice for Right on Crime at forums throughout the nation.”
Mark Meckler is a native of California and is one of the founders of Tea Party Patriots. He has been small business owner and an attorney with a practice focused on Internet privacy.
Mr. Meckler joins more than 60 prominent conservative leaders who have endorsed the principles of conservative criminal justice reform, including former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese, former New Mexico Attorney General Hal Stratton, former U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, and Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist.