Indian State Sovereignty Resolutions

Indian State Sovereignty Resolutions

Grassroots activists from across the state rallied to support State Sovereignty Resolutions in the spring of 2009. A Senate Resolution passed. The House Resolution died in committee.

Indiana had 3 sovereignty Resolutions introduced in the 116th session. Two types of resolutions (simple and concurrent). Two where in the Senate and one in the House. All with slight but different language.

SCR 37, Federalism.
http://www.in.gov/app...
www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2009&session=1&request=getBill&docno=0037&doctype=SCR

SR 42, Defense of state sovereignty resolution.
http://www.in.gov/app...
www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2009&session=1&request=getBill&docno=0042&doctype=SR

HCR 50, Urging the US to stop mandates beyond their scope of power.
http://www.in.gov/app...
www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2009&session=1&request=getBill&docno=0050&doctype=HCR

Senate Concurrent Resolution 37 was initially filed but almost immediately left for dead by it's own authors. A new type of resolution, Senate Resolution 42, was authored and introduced. It retained all the original authors and supporters, but was sent to a different committee. This is the resolution that gained support of the activist and legislators. It unanimously passed out of committee with even the democrats signing on as co-authors! (That's the result of a couple of impressive Senators combined with impressive lobbying!) Once the committee recommend the legislation "do pass" it was adopted and went to the floor for a full vote.

SR 42 was passed by the full Senate with only 3 no votes.
http://www.in.gov/leg...
www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2009/PDF/Srollcal/0336.PDF.pdf

Senate Resolution 42 is done, final. It required no more action. Being a simple resolution it never was, nor needs to be, considered by the House. Nor be presented to the governor. Simple Resolutions are used to express the sentiment of it's house. It helps educate and many feel it's necessary to reassert our State's rights. Resolutions are not binding on the State like a bill. But it has weight and stands on it's own merits. It sets precedents and can be used to deal with internal affairs of that house. It is a victory for the Constitutions!

House Concurrent Resolution 50 was introduce a month after the first Senate Resolution. It was assigned to a committee. The Chairman never placed it on their schedule so when the deadline for committee reports ended, the resolution automatically died. It's referred to as dead because it did not "fail" as if by vote. Sometimes you hear "sent to die" or "left for dead" when legislation is stuck in committees. Many believe that was the Speaker's intention when it was referred to that committee. And obviously the intention of the Chairman as he did not consider it important enough to even investigate.

HCR 50 seemed to have received less attention and was naturally harder to pass that chamber as there are more Representatives to educate. It was a Concurrent Resolution which must be adopted by both houses to be effective. Had it moved out of committee by the deadline and passed by the House, it would have gone to the Senate to start the process there. When passed,Concurrent Resolutions represent the sentiment of the
general assembly. Concurrent Resolutions are not presented to the Governor for signature.

Why is this history nice to know? Because we're going to do it again!

State Representative Dave Frizzell will be filling a House State Sovereignty Resolution again next session! A few other Representatives will be in there fighting this time too.

Research sources and a lobbying plan will be posted soon for those interested. A good place to start is simply writing your Senator [mostly thank yous] about their vote http://www.in.gov/leg... and let them know you're looking forward to the House passing their sovereignty resolution next year. Then write your Representative and let him know you're pleased with what the Senate did and support a House version too.

If no one quits, we just might make a difference!

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A printable PETITION supporting State Sovereignty can be found in the "Files" section of this meetup group.
Petition - State Sovereignty 2010
http://files.meetup.c...

History on the State Sovereignty Resolutions from the JBS meetup mailing list.

Beginning -

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Action Alert 10th Amendment - State Sovereignty -
Lynette Feb 16, 2009 12:45 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Action Alert 10th Amendment - State Sovereignty -
Mark Wallace Feb 16, 2009 12:53 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Action Alert 10th Amendment - State Sovereignty -
Lynette Feb 17, 2009 9:18 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Action Alert 10th Amendment - State Sovereignty -
Jeremy Sallee Feb 17, 2009 10:22 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
RE: [jbs-9] Action Alert 10th Amendment - State Sovereignty -
Mary Black Feb 18, 2009 5:51 AM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
RE: [jbs-9] Action Alert 10th Amendment - State Sovereignty -
Jeremy Sallee Feb 20, 2009 4:07 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Senate Concurrent Resolution 0037 - in Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure -
Lynette Feb 23, 2009 3:01 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
SC 0037 - Federalism -
Jerry Titus Feb 23, 2009 3:44 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
at least 14 state officially in the "State Sovereignty Movement" -
Lynette Feb 25, 2009 7:03 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Indiana Action Alert SCR 37 -
Jerry Titus Mar 12, 2009 12:15 AM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Urgent Update - Action Alert! 10th amendment/State Sovereignty Now SR 42. -
Jerry Titus Mar 23, 2009 4:04 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Update onf Indiana's State Sovereignty Resolutions -
Lynette Mar 31, 2009 8:22 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Update onf Indiana's State Sovereignty Resolutions -
Jerry Titus Apr 1, 2009 9:55 AM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Update onf Indiana's State Sovereignty Resolutions -
Jerry Titus Apr 1, 2009 12:45 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Update onf Indiana's State Sovereignty Resolutions -
Dustin Apr 1, 2009 2:48 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Update onf Indiana's State Sovereignty Resolutions -
Jerry Titus Apr 1, 2009 2:50 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Update onf Indiana's State Sovereignty Resolutions -
Joyce Morrell Apr 1, 2009 2:51 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
SR 42 - 'Defense of State Sovereignty' update and Action Alert! -
Jerry Titus Apr 1, 2009 7:06 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Action Alert - Senate to vote on State Sovereignty Resolution next week -
Lynette Apr 2, 2009 11:14 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Fw: URGENT- Resolutions need ACTION TODAY ! -
Lynette Apr 8, 2009 1:19 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Chairman Gia Quinta, Support HCR 50 - State Sovereignty -
Lynette Apr 8, 2009 3:12 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
Re: [jbs-9] Tea Party Caution - Don't sign anything -
Joyce Morrell Apr 9, 2009 3:19 PM

http://jbs.meetup.com...
SR 42 passes 44-3 / HCR 50 died in committee -
Lynette Apr 9, 2009 5:08 PM

Tenth Amendment Movement

At least 30 states introduced some kind of sovereignty legislation in 2009.

At least 12 states passed legislation in 2009.

http://www.jbs.org/in...
www.jbs.org/index.php/action/campaign-tools/4564

A grassroots movement to work with state legislators to restore state sovereignty over those powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution. Scroll down to see status by state with links to the texts of the resolutions.

Couple of great video's about state's sovereignty.

Rohrer: 10th Amendment Clearly Defines State Powers
http://www.youtube.co...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB03MEw2_4c&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jbs.org%2Findex.php%2Faction%2Fcampaign-tools%2F4564&feature=player_embedded
February 11, 2009
5 mins. Speech by Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-PA) http://www.samrohrer....
He's discussing Pennsylvaina's legisation but has good FYI about facts and the need.


GlenBeck: NH Sovereignty - over 20 states aboard now! Civil War?!
http://www.youtube.co...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I36vH_uTbic&feature=related
2/13/09
4:32 mins.
Beck interview regarding the states sovereignty with NH Representave Dan Itse (R-NH) http://www.gencourt.s...
www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/member.aspx?member=376357

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Glenn Beck - States Test the 10th Amendment [1 of 2] - May 7, 2009
http://www.youtube.co...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Lv0Nfvkvo&feature=player_embedded
A discussion on the Glenn Beck show with Utah State Representative Carl Wimmer (R) and Texas State Representative Leo Berman (R) about legislation currently being proposed in their states which is similar to the recent Montana bill in which firearms and ammunition produced in that state will be exempt from all federal regulation and federal firearms laws. Utah is calling it the "Patrick Henry Caucus" http://www.thepatrick...

(this is the one to learn from)

Glenn Beck - States Test the 10th Amendment [2 of 2] - May 7, 2009
http://www.youtube.co...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPOkVFzR_zs&feature=player_embedded

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Charles Key 10th Amendment Sovereignty for Oklahoma on Huckabee
http://www.youtube.co...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zK859AFE7s
(Rep. Key is a great guy)

Tenth Amendment Center

http://www.tenthamend...
www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/

For immediate release: May 18, 2009

http://www.in.gov/por...

Guest Column - INDIANA State Senator Marlin Stutzman

Dear Editor:

If Thomas Jefferson could come back and visit the United States for a day, would he recognize the government his wisdom and wordsmithing helped create?

He would likely be confused, or outraged, by the overreaching power of the federal government. He would bristle at the coercive use of matching funding, and unfunded federal mandates, to make the states submit to the will of the federal system.

Federal mandates and power grabs have been happening for years, but gaining momentum is a national movement to demand the federal government adhere to the designs of our forefathers and enforce the 10th Amendment. That amendment says powers not specifically delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.

I joined State Sen. Greg Walker (R-Columbus) in authoring a resolution urging the federal government to end all state mandates beyond the scope of powers outlined by that 10th Amendment. We were joined by 19 other Republicans and six Democrats as co-authors. It passed in the Senate overwhelmingly, 44-3. Similar resolutions have been passed in 30 states - 15 in the last month alone.

Many leaders in those states have recognized the checks and balances our forefathers built into the U.S. government have eroded to dangerous levels. Early American statesman Alexander Hamilton said "the people will always take care to preserve the constitutional equilibrium between the federal and state governments." This balance formed a double security for the people. If one encroached on their rights, they could find a powerful protection in the other.

Our founding fathers said the federal government should be concerned with war, treaty and commerce between the states and abroad -- period. Everything else - roads, education, agriculture, etc - is a state responsibility. Programs such as the far-reaching "No Child Left Behind," signed by a Republican President, and massive federal stimulus plans with as many strings as dollars, created by a Democrat president, both disrupt the balance built into our system of government.

Jefferson teamed with another future president and statesman, James Madison, to write this resolution for Kentucky and Virginia: "The several states composing the United States of America are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their General Government."

Powers of the federal government are, as the Constitution clearly outlines, "delegated." They are not inherent. This arrangement made the federal government an agent of sorts for the states, authorizing it to act on their behalf in certain ways - not vice-versa.

This issue is not an attack of the Obama Administration. This is not a Democrat versus Republican issue. This issue is about the legitimacy of authority wielded by the federal government. Our founding fathers knew what they were setting up. Conflict between the state and federal systems was by design.

If our constitution is to be anything other than a dusty document we honor in a museum, we need to keep those principles alive in our hearts and minds.

While he might be dismayed at how out-of-balance our government currently is, I think Thomas Jefferson would also be pleased to see resolutions passed in so many states protesting federal intrusion. After all, it was Jefferson who said "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

-30-

Another Indiana politician quotes the founding fathers! We shouldn't be surprised though. It's Senator Kruse. He lead the battle for the 10th Amendment in our state.

Please help keep this topic alive. It will be easier to move the legislation in the House next session.

It’s time Washington, D.C., heeded Constitution
http://www.kpcnews.co...
www.kpcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3720:It%E2%80%99s-time-Washington,-D.C.,-heeded-Constitution&catid=102:other-local-columnist&Itemid=136
29 May 2009

If Thomas Jefferson could come back and visit the United States for a day, would he recognize the government his wisdom and wordsmithing helped create? ....

We have a petition supporting State Sovereignty in the "Files" section.

Petition - State Sovereignty 2010
http://files.meetup.c...
(If you can't print the petition, let me know. I will email you another format.)

If you would like to help please print petitions and gather as many signatures as you can.

When you are done you are welcomed to get them directly to State Rep. Frizzell or contact me for instructions on how to best use them.

The JBS had a booth at the Indy TP 4th of July event. We collected hundreds of petition signatures supporting state sovereignty! It was hugely popular.

Petitions can be powerful for the cause. It gives the legislator support for his cause or holds them accountable for not addressing the issue. They build your credibility as an activist who is willing to do hard work and shows the legislators you're committed and serious. The conversation you have with the person signing the petition is valuable.

I think we can present a thousand signatures but we all need to do some work.

The petition is posted in this meetup's files section.

Good luck!

A couple of us attended a Regional TP meeting the other day.
We collected another 100 signatures support state sovereignty.
We could have gotten more but some people had already signed the petition at the Indy 4th of July event.
We asked that folks only sign once.

Collection signature is so easy. Next time your going anywhere there's 20 people or more, take your clip board. It really adds up. I have a standing Movie Day at my local library. I took the petitions and collect signatures.