Matt Drudge over at the DRUDGEREPORT pointed out this speech today from Governor Rick Perry of Texas dressing down the federal governments blatant disregard for the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution, and reaffirming states’ rights and sovereignty. It is refreshing to see a governor stand up to the federal government and demand a return to the federalism envisioned by our forefathers.
I called for the governors of the several states to stand up for their sovereign rights in my post from last week, and it looks like at least some of them are thinking along the same lines. This kind of thinking could get the governor a special file in the DHS’s rightwing fanatic file though!
Let’s all join him. The first file to 100 pages wins!
WAKE UP CALL: TEXAS GOV. BACKS RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SOVEREIGNTY
Tue Apr 14 2009 08:44:54 ET
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said. “That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”
Perry continued: "Millions of Texans are tired of Washington, DC trying to come down here to tell us how to run Texas."
A number of recent federal proposals are not within the scope of the federal government’s constitutionally designated powers and impede the states’ right to govern themselves. HCR 50 affirms that Texas claims sovereignty under the 10th Amendment over all powers not otherwise granted to the federal government.
It also designates that all compulsory federal legislation that requires states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties, or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding, be prohibited or repealed.
Developing...
Governor Perry might only think that he is speaking for millions of Texans that are feeling oppressed by the Federal Government, he is speaking for tens of millions of Americans that are feeling the same way. Find out where your local Representatives stand on HCR 50, and let them know that you want them to support it!
Perry/Palin 2012!
isn’t texas under a treaty with the United States? Couldn’t they just call it off? I’m not positive about that statement, just something I think I remember from a history class in college. laugh.
It is in Texas’ Constitution. Their Constitution has a clause that makes it a contract with the U.S. They can leave the Union when that contract is violated. Not all states have these stipulations in their Constitutions. I would believe that this stipulation would have to have these when they were admitted into to Union. I do know Montana has a similar condition in there Constitution.
Too bad, I saw a poll today that 70% of Texans want to stay in the Union. Who knows how accurate that poll is, though?
Now, one movement that is out there is a resolution that is similar the KY Resolution author by Jefferson, which reinforced the 10th Amendment. Many states are passing these. You can write your state representatives and encourage them to support and pass it.
For the ones in Rio Linda, the 10th Amendment states, “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.”
@liam09: liam you are correct and they will and can take all federal properties including military equipment. i almost forgot GO Palin the right needs to take back our country before Husein gives it all away.
At the present moment, this is probably fairly accurate. Mexicans without visas or immigration papers aren’t the only group of people that have been streaming over our borders by the millions for the last 20-30 years. 😉 It takes transplanted Texans a little longer to get truly riled up.
If I recall correctly, the Texas Legislature must pass a motion to Secede unanimously (maybe it was just by a very high %). Give Obama another year or two to get started kicking in new taxes and keep spending trillions and trillions of dollars on socialist programs and pork, and that 30%/70% number could reverse itself and more.
Also, Rick Perry isn’t horrible or what I’d call a rino, but he is hardly as conservative/pure as the wind driven snow. This is likely as much about the 2010 Republican Governor’s race primary against Kay Bailey Hutchinson as it is about any deep personal beliefs. I’m not saying he is completely blowing smoke up our arses, only that he is astute enough to see advantage in overplaying opposition to the Federal government compared to his own true level of outrage. I could be wrong. I have become jaded over the last decade when it comes to politicians, so I start from the position that they are full of spit, then hide and watch to see if they aren’t.
Good riddance. Texas has had it’s oversized ass handed to them on platter twice and they still think they have a reason to act like pompous jackasses. I’d give Texas back to Mexico but even the Mexicans don’t want Texas.
Perry’s message, missed by many of the comments so far, is that states must reaffirm their sovereignty as guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment. He actually dismissed talks of seceding, and instead, called for other elected officials to join him in reaffirming states’ rights in order to “strengthen our Union”, not tear it apart.
@Wisdom
True enough. The problem is that, just like individuals, more and more states are growing addicted to suckling at the federal teat. It is hard to reaffirm rights that other states are throwing away like trash.
@Rodney
I notice that you didn’t have enough pride to state where you come from in your drive-by insults. I would also be interested in hearing details of the two times we have had our “oversized ass” handed to us. It has been a while since I have seen a good case of panhandle envy.
@ rodney
I am believing you are a little green man whose small brain power is matched in its diminutive nature only by the smallness of other anatomy. Not to worry, envy is normal for someone of your status. While some think Texas brags, this has never been the case. We only state the truth about our state and would be remiss not to mention how great it truly is and how accomplished we are.
Also, Rodless, you should investigate your history lesson again.
It must be so sad being green.
Texas has ever resource it needs to survive on it’s own, except a fence on it’s northern border to stop all the yankee’s from invading since they have ruined their own states. Almost every state ran by the democrat party is bankrupt or close to it. I don’t presently live in Tx but my children and grandchildren do so I have a home there. Fence off Mich and east south of NY and they would all starve to death in 90 days or less.
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Unless there is specific language prohibiting it, I see no reason why a state could not amend it’s Constitution to duplicate Texas’s “contract” clause.