AUSTIN, Texas -- Governor Greg Abbott is pushing ahead with his convention-of-states plan to amend the US Constitution.

He says it's still needed even under a Republican president.

Abbott spoke at an event marking the filing of the legislation in Texas. 

It would allow states to propose amendments to the Constitution.

Abbott wants to combat what he calls ongoing federal overreach...and says what's ailing America is far bigger than what any one president can fix.

"All three branches of government have so far strayed from what the Constitution provides, it's impossible to put that genie back in the box by just one president,” Abbott said. “It's gonna take far too long."

It takes 34 state legislatures to apply for a convention for it to happen.

Abbott noted that after the election, Republicans now control 33 governors' offices across the country.