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February 24, 2010
States to Fed: Don't Tread on Us!
Posted by The MaryHunter at February 24, 2010 6:15 AM
As if President Obama and the Democrat-run Congress didn't already have enough to worry about from Republicans having broken their once-famous "filibuster-proof" Senate majority, there's this little matter of the Tenth Amendment as well. Virginia and a number of other states have already taken up "Health Care Freedom" bills, and Arizona pulled out of a Climate Pact among western states. But that was just a taste of what's to come. Now, state legislatures from sea to shining sea are girding their loins for battle against the federal government.
Lawmakers in 44 states have introduced measures warning Congress not to trample states' rights and dozens of other resolutions opposing the government on issues including gun control and health care.
In conservative South Carolina, Republican House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham said his caucus made standing up to the federal government a top priority this year.
"I hear it at church, at the barber shop: 'You guys need to stand up.' The issue of federal intrusion is a John Doe issue," he said. "This is a yes-point for us. They're mad. They're upset. They expect us to respond."
That response included passing a resolution to assert the state's rights under several constitutional amendments. It says South Carolina's attorney general will sue if Congress passes mandates that the state deems unconstitutional, and that no state agency will follow the mandates while a decision is pending.
"To say public reaction and being vocal doesn't have any influence is ludicrous," Mr. Bingham said. "That's how you enact change in a civilized society."
Take-home message: keep up the tea parties, keep up the letter-writing, phoning and faxing to Congress -- but don't forget your own state representatives as providing yet a third front in this epic battle for freedom we are waging against out-of-control progressives in Washington.
Image courtesy of Spencer, Iowa Tea Party Patriots, who posted a nice history of the Gadsden flag you see here.
