Lawmakers in 20 states move to reclaim sovereignty
Obama’s $1 trillion deficit-spending ‘stimulus plan’ seen as last straw
wnd
As the Obama administration attempts to push through Congress a nearly $1 trillion deficit spending plan that is weighted heavily toward advancing typically Democratic-supported social welfare programs, a rebellion against the growing dominance of federal control is beginning to spread at the state level.
So far, eight states have introduced resolutions declaring state sovereignty under the Ninth and Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, including Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington.
Analysts expect that in addition, another 20 states may see similar measures introduced this year, including Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nevada, Maine and Pennsylvania.
“What we are trying to do is to get the U.S. Congress out of the state’s business,” Oklahoma Republican state Sen. Randy Brogdon told WND.
“Congress is completely out of line spending trillions of dollars over the last 10 years putting the nation into a debt crisis like we’ve never seen before,” Brogdon said, arguing that the Obama stimulus plan is the last straw taxing state patience in the brewing sovereignty dispute.
“This particular 111th Congress is the biggest bunch of over-reachers and underachievers we’ve ever had in Congress,” he said.
“A sixth-grader should realize you can’t borrow money to pay off your debt, and that is the Obama administration’s answer for a stimulus package,” he added.
The Ninth Amendment reads, “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
The Tenth Amendment specifically provides, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Brogdon, the lead sponsor of the Oklahoma state senate version of the sovereignty bill, has been a strong opponent of extending the plan to build a four-football-fields-wide Trans-Texas Corridor parallel to Interstate-35 to Oklahoma.
Rollback federal authority
The various sovereignty measures moving through state legislatures are designed to reassert state authority through a rollback of federal authority under the powers enumerated in the Constitution, with the states assuming the governance of the non-enumerated powers, as required by the Tenth Amendment.
The state sovereignty measures, aimed largely at the perceived fiscal irresponsibility of Congress in the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, have gained momentum with the $1 trillion deficit-spending economic stimulus package the Obama administration is currently pushing through Congress.
Particularly disturbing to many state legislators are the increasing number of “unfunded mandates” that have proliferated in social welfare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, in which bills passed by Congress dictate policy to the states without providing funding.
In addition, the various state resolutions include discussion of a wide range of policy areas, including the regulation of firearms sales (Montana) and the demand to issue drivers licenses with technology to embed personal information under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the Real ID Act (Michigan).
Hawaii’s measure calls for a new state constitutional convention to return self-governance, a complaint that traces back to the days it was a U.S. territory, prior to achieving statehood in 1959.
“We are trying to send a message to the federal government that the states are trying to reclaim their sovereignty,” Republican Rep. Matt Shea, the lead sponsor of Washington’s sovereignty resolution told WND.
“State sovereignty has been eroded in so many areas, it’s hard to know where to start,” he said. “There are a ton of federal mandates imposed on states, for instance, on education spending and welfare spending.”
Shea said the Obama administration’s economic stimulus package moving through Congress is a “perfect example.”
“In the state of Washington, we have increased state spending 33 percent in the last three years and hired 6,000 new state employees, often using federal mandates as an excuse to grow state government,” he said. “We need to return government back down to the people, to keep government as close to the local people as possible.”
Shea is a private attorney who serves with the Alliance Defense Fund, a nationwide network of about 1,000 attorneys who work pro-bono. As a counter to the ACLU, the alliance seeks to protect and defend religious liberty, the sanctity of life and traditional family values.
Republican state Rep. Judy Burges, the primary sponsor of the sovereignty resolution in the Arizona House, told WND the federal government “has been trouncing on our constitutional rights.”
“The real turning point for me was the Real ID act, which involved both a violation of the Fourth Amendments rights against the illegal searches and seizures and the Tenth Amendment,” she said.
Burges told WND she is concerned that the overreaching of federal powers could lead to new legislation aimed at confiscating weapons from citizens or encoding ammunition.
“The Real ID Act was so broadly written that we are afraid that it involves the potential for “mission-creep,” that could easily involve confiscation of firearms and violations of the Second Amendment,” she said.
Burges said she has been surprised at the number of e-mails she has received in support of the sovereignty measure.
“We are a sovereign state in Arizona, not a branch of the federal government, and we need to be treated as such, she insisted
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Wild Thing’s comment……….
I wish Florida was on the list. I plan on writing our rino Gov about this. Woo Hoo!!
We can’t be blamed for wondering if there is any sanity left among elected officials anywhere in the United States. This is a welcome article.
….Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
This just might be the only way we can beat this monster created by the democrats, Socialism. The Declaration of Independance and the 10th amendment got it started 149 years ago. Whether it goes that far this time, I don’t know. But the times are just as perilous as then. Individual rights and property rights were threatened then too.
” That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.”
Government, deriving their power from the CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED, that means , US, We the People.
As for the democrats, these documents do not exist, they have usurped the Constitution and the Declaration of Independance to the point where we are no longer a representative government with the consent of the governed.
This is what gave the South the right to secede from the Union. Lincoln violated this sacred trust even further by blockading Southern ports and sending troops into the South to force them back into the Union at gunpoint.
We are guaranteed certain Unalienable rights, given by our creator, NOT by the government. Our government is supposed to serve US not us serve them, as obama & Ilk, think it should.
This is what has separated the United States from the rest of the world. They rely on the government…We don’t. And it’s high time we got back to that.
I agree WT. All of us in states not on the list should be contacting our elected “representatives” and it wouldn’t hurt for those in the listed states to reinforce their beliefs.
Bob A.
Mark, you’re right on the money. Contrary to popular belief today, the Civil War wasn’t fought over slavery, it was fought over states rights. Slavery was an issue that came up later.
From what I understand, Texas is the only state that has it in their Constitution to where it can legally succeed from the Union.
Where is Nebraska? We’re usually a BIG Republican stronghold, with the exception of the actual city of Omaha. My county is actually the most Republican in the state–Sarpy. They make fun of us for being that way. Oh well. Too bad. Anyhoo, I’m glad to see that states are starting to pull against his wishes, but now he wants to take over the 2010 census and change the boundaries so that no Republican will EVER have a chance to win-EVER! Change it in such a way that even if they do get votes, it will NEVER be enough to win. Talk about corruption! And he wanted to give us all a hug–yeah, right–like from an Boa Constrictor!
Wouldn’t it be grand to actually obey The Constitution and return powers and rights to the States that the Federal government has stolen over the years. I hope and expect my state, Texas, to join this movement.
Curtailing and reversing the powers the Feds have stolen and abused is necessary if we are to remain a Republic. Our individual rights and freedoms have been eroded by the growth of the central government. Obama has all but sworn to take away more of our personal freedoms through more government regulations and taxation. This needs to be stopped and a peaceful revolt by state governments is an ideal way to do so.
NOW you know how the CSA felt in 1860 and the 13 states that seceeded the Union, with Kentucky and Missouri sympathizing for DiXie!
History always repeats itself in one form or another… under God!
BobF I wholeheartedly agree, did you know that there were also Black Soldiers who fought on INTEGRATED Confederate Lines. Don’t buy the PC “All Black” Union Units, “All Black” to me just means “Segregated” all black units with White Officers. I also like to point out Robert E. Lee didn’t hate the U.S. he loved Virginia just a little more and couldnt bear to raise troops to take up arms against her. Also don’t buy into the hype that the union “won” sure they “won” but the north just won a war of attrition not because of any tactical or strategic brilliance. A Union Victory cost an enormous amount of troops because of the incompetence of the union generals.
P.S. Tom, I’m a fellow Texan that’s with you.
God I hate being a pessimist but!!! I just love the concept of getting back to states rights but before any state can do that they have to break the strings, strings hell, they’re cables, that bind them the most, federal revenue sharing!!! Washington is on that list, this state does nothing without matching funds, surely they meant Washington DC. Isn’t that the leverage being used right now with this spending bill? Buying Socialist loyalty with tax dollars.
Stalinist Christine Gregoire is still firmly entrenched here in Jim McDermott land as are her uber left cabinet. Look at New Hampshire, who was that guy just picked by Obama “as the new Commerce secretary ” to dole out that revenue sharing? Judd Gregg!!! Now where are those principals of sovereignty once again? I don’t entertain any illusions about their intent, it’s posturing, like the cat does when the dog enters the room, puff all up and hiss. Feel better now? I don’t.
Guess who President Elect Obama has nominated be deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development ? Ron Sims.Washington State’s second biggest Marxist -Socialist. Whew, are we ever in for a ride up the river.
JohnE, there were quite a few Blacks who fought on the side of the South. Not all Blacks in the South were slaves. Matter of fact, many free Blacks owned slaves.
http://www.37thtexas.org/html/BlkHist.html
Did you ever notice when you read biographies of Civil War Generals, the Southern Generals are usually as decent honorable Christian men of high integrity but Northern Generals are usually describes as woman chasing drunkards?
Back then men, particularly in the South, owed their allegiance to their particular state first then the Union.
Found this over at my friends blog, A Yank In Kiwi Land.
http://ayankinkiwiland.blogspot.com/
Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists, Obama supporters, et al:
We have stuck together since the late 1950’s, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right, so let’s just end it on friendly terms. We can smile; slate it up to irreconcilable differences, and go on our own ways.
Here is a model dissolution agreement:
Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement.
After that it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes. We dont like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.
Since you hate guns and war, we’ll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA, and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie O’Donnell (you are however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move them).
We’ll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies, and illegal aliens. We’ll keep the hot Alaskan Hockey Moms, greedy CEO’s, and Rednecks. We’ll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood.
You can make nice with Iran, Palestine, and France, and we’ll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us. You can have the peaceniks and war protestors. When our allies or way of life are under assault, we’ll provide them job security.
We’ll keep our Judeo-Christian Values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, and Shirley McClain. You can have the U.N. But we will no longer be paying the bill. We’ll keep the SUV’s, pickup trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru Station Wagon you can find.
You can give everyone healthcare, if you can find any practicing Doctors (that is practicing, Howard Dean) who will follow to your turf (sic). We’ll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right.
We’ll keep “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and the National Anthem. I’m sure you’ll be happy to substitute “Imagine,” “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing,” “Kum Ba Ya,” or “We Are the World.”
We’ll practice trickle down economics, and you can give trickle up poverty its best shot.
Since it so offends you we’ll keep our History, our Name, and our Flag.
Would you agree to this? If so please pass it along to other like minded patriots, and if you do not agree just hit delete and hang on.
In the spirit of friendly parting, I’ll bet you ANWR on who will need whose help in 15 years.
B. Hussein Obama took the oath of office (while perjuring himself) on the same bible as Abraham Lincoln. He likes to compare himself to Lincoln. Well, this POS in the Oval Office will have something else in common, a Civil War, except, Obama will be on the losing and evil side of the war.
I live in the corrupt and Socialist state of New Jersey which sees big government as the be all and end all to Utopia. This nanny state is dominated by the Democrats in both government and population. Labor unions own the Democrat politicians. We pay the highest taxes, have a government pension obligation that can never be met, have one of the lowest return on investment for dollars spent on education, have a large migration of taxpayers leaving the state, and are functionally bankrupt.
So, all the people of the other states have to do is look at New Jersey to know that they better fight a civil war to reclaim their own states sovereignty or that is what they will become.
Poll Finds Many Hoping To Leave New Jersey Behind
http://wcbstv.com/local/people.leaving.jersey.2.375879.html
Mark, great comment, thank you so much. DITTO!
One strange fact about the border states. Maryland was very pro South and was toying with the idea of Seceeding. However, there was one huge problem for the United States, had Maryland actually gone out, Washingtond D.C. would have been in the middle of the South and totally surrounded.
Bob A. thanks. I sure hope we get a response or at least that our States do this too.
Lynn, yes Florida is not there either. My hope is we will see all of them doing this.
Tom that gave me goosebumps reading that.
I wish and pray for that.
“Wouldn’t it be grand to actually obey The Constitution and return powers and rights to the States”
Darth your right, what a feeling.
JohnE PFC U.S. Army, I love Texas. Great State and wonderful people there.
Jack, oh my gosh it never ends. Thanks for the information about Ron Sims Jack. I had not researched him yet and I appreciate it.
I guess the tears will always come until Obama is done destroying our precious country. I do good then all of a sudden I just cry about it.
BobF, thank you for that so much.
Les, Nick has a cousin that lives in N.Jersey. They feel the same as you do. Actually all of us that love America feel disgust for what is happening and are in this together. It is so sickening.
I agree Les, when Obama insisted on using Lincoln’s Bible it just made me so angry. He, Kenya boy, has not earned that right.
Mark, wow that is really interesting about Maryland, I don’t think I ever knew that.
Since Obama’s earnest drive to convince the nation to weaken its economic strength through redistribution as well as weaken its national defense, COUPLED WITH HIS UNPRECEDENTED WHITE HOUSE TAKEOVER OF DECENNIAL CENSUS TAKING FROM THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT, has confirmed the very threats to our Republic’s survival that the Constitution was designed to avert, it no longer is sustainable for the United States Supreme Court and Military Joint Chiefs to refrain from exercising WHAT IS THEIR ABSOLUTE CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO DEFEND THE NATION FROM UNLAWFUL USURPATION. The questions of Obama’s Kenyan birth and his father’s Kenyan/British citizenship (admitted on his own website) have been conflated by his sustained unwillingnes to supply his long form birth certificate now under seal, and compounded by his internet posting of a discredited ‘after-the-fact’ short form ‘certificate’. In the absence of these issues being acknowledged and addressed, IT IS MANIFEST THAT OBAMA REMAINS INELIGIBLE TO BE PRESIDENT UNDER ARTICLE 2 OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. Being a 14th Amendment ‘citizen’ is not sufficient. A ‘President’ MUST BE an Article 2 ‘natural born citizen’ AS DEFINED BY THE FRAMERS’ INTENT.
May the Old Dominion rise again! (I’m so glad I’m not in CA anymore.)
Unfortunately, Virginia’s not on the list. Time to rouse the good ol’ boys and gals! We’re so damn close to DC the poison has started to leak westward in the state.
But up here on the ridge, obamabots are few and far between.
Y’all come on up to Camp Yankeemom! (Tho I might have to change my handle here. Maybe to Damn Yankee…) We’ll hold the line!
Yankeemom, giggle. I would love to visit Camp Yankeemom.
Yankeemom, I have cried on how I miss the beauty of Calif. I guess I will always feel that way. But when I see what has happened there I am glad we moved out of Calilf. It just has too many things now that make it impossible to ever come back I am afraid.