State Sovereignty Resolution Update – 4/11/09

I’m a little behind on reporting State sovereignty resolution status, so I am hoping this will make up for lost time:

There is a report, unconfirmed by the Legislative Service Commission, that Ohio’s HCR 11 has been referred to the State Government committee, chaired by Rep. Ronald V. Gerberry (D-Austintown).

In Alaska, HR 9 was replaced with CSHJR 27. It passed the House Apr. 6 by a vote of 37-0 with 3 excused. The measure is under consideration in the State Senate.

The Tenth Amendment Center reports that the Senate version (SR 632) of Georgia’s resolution passed Apr. 1 by a vote of 43-1. Because it is not a joint or concurrent resolution, it will not be considered in the Georgia House.

Indiana’s SCR 37 was replaced with SR0042, which was passed by the Senate Apr. 9 by a vote of 44-3. Like Georgia, the resolution was not joint or concurrent.

HCR 3063 passed the North Dakota House by a vote of 52-40. It has been referred to a Senate committee, which will hold a hearing on it Monday, Apr. 13.

Now the bad news – according to the Tenth Amendment Center, HJR 27 in New Mexico has been tabled in committee. Other bloggers indicate that it may be dead in the water.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has endorsed that State’s resolution (HCR50). The Central Texas Register recorded the event thus:

“As the federal government spends us into generations of inconceivable debt, responsible state governments are trying to insulate themselves, protect their citizens and govern with fiscal common sense. Perry summed up what has become the common concern of people across the nation when he said:

‘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. 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.’”

The Central Texas Register believes that, with six state legislatures passing resolutions, and several governors, including Gov. Perry and Govs. Sarah Palin of Alaska and Mark Sanford of South Carolina, endorsing them, the movement is “bound to have some impact.” At the very least, Congressional Republicans are beginning to feel pressure not to go soft on fiscal issues.

Even more importantly, notes the Register, it shows that the people are demanding real grassroots change. Cosmetic changes, such as a new President, are no longer enough. The grassroots are calling for fundamental transfer of power away from bureaucrats and politicians and back to the people, who are using the power of State governments under the Constitution to hold the Feds accountable, and to end their abuses of power.

The Tenth Amendment Center writer Karen DeCoster is observing that the major issues driving the grassroots push for change are “guns, gold, and secession”. Yes, she wrote the s word! She notes how each is being applied to the effort to protect and enhance the liberties of the people. (Her reference to secession is more that of the secession triggers in the New Hampshire and South Carolina resolutions).

As I wrote a few days ago, a revolution is coming. Our challenge will be to manage it well.