Indiana panel sidetracks US constitutional convention call

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The conservative cause asking states to call the first constitutional convention since the nation's founding is facing some skepticism among Indiana legislators.

The Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked 5-5 Wednesday on whether to endorse a resolution for Indiana to support calling such a convention.

Supporters say they believe states need to stand up to the federal government's expanding reach and growing debt.

Two Republican senators joined three committee Democrats in voting against the resolution, preventing it from advancing to the full Senate. Some opponents said they worried about such a constitutional convention running amok.

About 100 lawmakers from some 30 states attending a meeting in June at the Indiana Statehouse for discussions about calling a constitutional convention, which would need the consent of 34 states.