TO: ALL FROM Dan Druck, Council on Domestic Relations The following is a text transcript of a letter written from California Attorney Peter D. Lepiscopo to the Rep. Timothy Stine (Louisiana) regarding his revised opinion about the dangers of the COS. Original fax copies can be obtained by calling (217) 854-4008 or by faxing your request to (217) 854-4343. (donations sent to Council on Domestic Relations, P.O. Box 138, Carlinville, Illinois 62626 are appreciated) _________________________________________________________________ Law Office of PETER D. LEPISCOPO SUITE 10M 2635 CAMINO DEL RIO SOUTH SAN DIEGO, CALlFORNIA 92108 TELEPHONE(619) 299-5343 FACSIMlLE (619) 299-4767 March 31, 1995 VIA FACSIMlLE (318-527-2712) TO: THE HONORABLE TIMOTHY STINE and HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE Dear Representative Stine: I appreciate the time you spent with a last night discussing the issue of the Conference of the States. Thank you. I have herewith transmitted all my comunications with the California Senate, which, as you know, voted on March 22rd to reject the Conference of the states. I have also transmitted a copy of U. S. Senate resolution S. R. 82, which calls for a Conference of the States and mentions convening a constitutional convention. I would like to memorialize my position once again: I am not adverse to returning federal power to it's proper sphere (i.e., decentralizing it from Washington to the States, as it was intended by the Founders); nor am I adverse to the 10th Amendment movement in this country; nor am I adverse to state legislators and governors meeting to discuss this issue. My position is simply this I do not believe it is necessary for state legislatures to pass resolutions sanctioning any such meeting and I am concerned about convening a constitutional convention (I believe the Constitution is perfect as written, but the federal judiciary refuses to comply with it's dictates). This is the danger I address in my opinion letter. Furthermore, and as I tried to clarify last evening, I do not believe the amendments I proposed in my opinion letter are fail safe; as I concluded in my opinion I would vote against legislative sanctioning of the Conference of the States. Finally, if the Committee would like further testimony prior to sending the resolution to the floor for a vote, then I will make myself available to the committee by telephone conference call. Very Truly Yours, LAW OFFICES OF PETER D. LEPISCOPO [signature] Peter D. Lepiscopo