Obama Citizenship

States Formally Declare: Don?t Tread On Us!

By Phil

With Matt Drudge having drawn red-highlight attention to Oklahoma’s State House having passed their chamber’s version of a Tenth Amendment resolution (a feat big enough of a deal to warrant Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s inviting State Senator Charles Key to his Saturday night FoxNews show) and the Politico similarly mentioning a brief overview of these bills and resolutions — heck, even The New York Times posts a relatively reasonable response to these events – one might think that a movement was afoot.

In fact, while Mississippi also looks like it’s about to be passing its own resolution, there are far-reaching implications, for even States such as Tennessee are looking at passing bills having to do with the Second Amendment, and with court cases like Nordyke v. King providing fodder for federal challenges to the companion Bill of Rights issue of weapons rights, it’s unlikely that the States’ rights movement is going to slow any time soon.

This is precisely what State legislators like South Dakota State Rep. M. J. “Manny” Steele proposes in his invitation (PDF with signatures) for other State officials to join the cause (as always, major hat-tip to TenthAmendmentCenter.com):

Greetings from South Dakota.  I am proud to announce that South Dakota was the first state to accomplish bicameral passage of its resolution, HCR1013, to affirm our state?s rights.

Joining me today to announce the successful passage this year of their respective states? rights resolutions are the primary sponsors and leaders from the following states:

• Alaska (HJR27) Passed House and Senate
  Mike Kelly, Dist. 7, Sponsor
  Gary Stevens, Senate President
• Georgia (SR632) Passed Senate
  Chip Pearson, Dist. 51, Sponsor
• Idaho (HJM004) Passed House and Senate
  Lenore Barrett, Dist. 35, Sponsor
  Dick Harwood, Dist. 2, Sponsor
  Lawerence Denney, House Speaker
• Missouri (HCR13) Passed House
  Jim Guest, Dist. 5, Sponsor
• North Dakota (HCR3063) Passed House and Senate
  Craig Headland, Dist. 29, Sponsor
  David Monson, House Speaker
• Oklahoma (HJR1003) Passed House and Senate
  Randy Brogdon, Dist. 34, Sponsor
• South Carolina (H3509) Passed House; Currently in Senate Committee
  Michael A. Pitts, Dist. 14, Sponsor
• South Dakota (HCR1013) Passed House and Senate
  Manny Steele, Dist. 12, Sponsor
  Dennis Daugaard, Lt. Governor
  Tim Rave, House Speaker

We have heard great news from Texas that its HCR50 passed committee April 23, 2009. Sponsoring Representative Brandon Creighton expects the House to pass the resolution very shortly. In addition, Arizona?s HCR2024 passed committee on April 14, and per Sponsoring Representative Judy Burges, it is expected to pass the House.

The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution expressly reserves all powers to the states which are not delegated to the federal government. Over the course of decades, there have been increasing federal mandates and acts designed to effectively step in and legislate the affairs of our various states from Washington D.C.

Federal usurpation into state affairs severely limits the ability of state governments to operate according to their citizens? wishes. We believe that the best government is one which governs closer to the people.

As of this announcement, legislatures in nine states? have acted on bi-partisan support and have passed their respective resolutions to affirm states? rights. These are: Alaska (HJR27), Georgia (SR632), Idaho (HJM4), Indiana (SR42), Missouri (HCR13), North Dakota (HCR3063), Oklahoma (HJR1003), South Carolina (H3509) and South Dakota (HCR1013).

It appears that there are 25 more states which presently have similar resolutions pending.

The current price of erosion of states? rights exceeds $11 trillion. Without the countless attempts in Washington to duplicate and micromanage our states? affairs, much of this debt could have been avoided.

It is our sincere desire that each of you sees this popular issue as a means to more effectively carry out your duties to the citizens you work so hard to represent. We call on you to join us so that, together, we can make a difference.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or to discuss how our states can work together to bring back government closer to the people.

I tend to agree with TheNewConservative blog as far as what we, the People should demand from our leaders:

As new potential candidates come forward - ask them how they would vote on a state sovereignty bill… and then continue to press the issue of state’s rights and limited government… Let’s vet the 2010 candidates fully and ensure that the next generation of GOP candidates breathes the necessary life into the party.

Aside from my own page containing State-based initiatives, another great site to check out is SovereignStates.net and their listing of States considering sovereignty resolutions.

-Phil

Photo via Getty Images

Full post as published by The Right Side of Life on May 07, 2009 (boomark / email).