Posted on 03/28/2010 11:11:39 AM PDT by Si vis pacem
This year, Wyoming Republican legislators proposed an amendment to the Wyoming Constitution that would have prohibited the imposition of federal fines on or jail time for Wyoming citizens resulting from federal "health care" legislation. excerpt
Earlier this week Wyoming state legislators signed and presented a letter to Gov. Dave Freudenthal asking him to direct the State Attorney General to file suit against the federal government / ObamaCare. The Governor declined stating that the lawsuits had no chance of success and were political. Since last Sunday’s vote the AG’s and Governor’s phones have been ringing off the hook, state representatives and state senators are receiving calls and emails demanding that Wyoming defend its state’s rights and its citizens from this unprecedented intrusion on Wyoming’s rights to govern itself. It is clear that the AG and the Governor are not going to do anything.
So now it is up to the legislature to call a special session and compel the Governor and his AG to join the lawsuit. Under the Wyoming constitution and the rules of the house and senate - a special session can be called if 50% of the house and senate vote to call a special session.
So the focus needs to be switched from the Gov and the AG and placed on Wyoming’s legislators. The Wyoming legislators can defend Wyoming State’s Rights now! There is nothing standing in their way – it is within their rights and is their duty.
The legislators need to 1. Pass legislation to compel the Governor and AG to file suit against ObamaCare on behalf of the citizens of Wyoming 2. Pass the Health Care Freedom Act – a bill which protects Wyoming citizens having to purchase any product – in this case health care policies – as directed by the Federal Government – which did not make it to the floor during the session. 3. The legislators need to protect their right to regulate their own state government – the US Constitution does not allow the Congress to regulate state governments more specifically the Federal Government does not have the right to commandeer state legislatures – If Wyoming legislators let this attack on states’ rights go unanswered – well in effect the legislators would become obsolete, because through inaction / passivity they would be transferring their powers to regulate the state to the Federal Government. Is this the precedent that Wyoming wants to set? See Napolitano: Supreme Court to Strike Down Obamacare http://newsmax.com/Headline/Andrew-Napolitano-barack-obama/2010/03/26/id/354008?s=al&promo_code=9A73-1
Adding more states to a case is a good move only if the states initially filing the suit have a good argument.
I’ve not even seen the suit yet, so I have no idea on what grounds they’re basing this challenge. And I’ve seen some pretty dumb ideas being tossed around in the high-level GOP blatherfests.
Oh, and BTW:
“but my rights as a citizen of Wyoming trump those of the wolf”
That’s been pretty much the argument Wyoming has made, ie, the government’s “endangered species” listing is now moot, since there are stable populations, and if wolves are threatening you or your business, your rights supersede that of the wolves.
Still in all the legislature can surely find someone within the State to take up a lawsuit against 0bamacare...
Perhaps we can.
That’s another point that ticks me off a bit here: Has Wyoming been sitting on it’s ass about issues of freedom and liberty recently?
Nope.
Have most states?
Oh yea.
Especially all those states east of the Mississippi.
You can add Colorado to the list. One turned up dead on the White River about a year ago with the collar still beeping. Lots of rumors of sightings south of your Sweetwater County, but nobody's admitting to anything.
Heh, I know how you feel. We Texans are especially protective of our State. I wouldn’t know anything about that personally of course, but I have heard reports to that effect. ;^)
The legislature can compel the Governor to direct the AG to file suit. The Gov is not a King. That is why a special session will in all likelihood be called - the people - the citizens of Wyoming want the State to join the lawsuit - and the legislature will make that clear.
As far as the money issue is concerned - you keep bringing up things we have money for - again we have to set priorities and our own sovereignty heads the list.
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