An Open Letter to the Members of the Tennessee General Assembly – use as a template to write legislators in your own state!

It’s time for our efforts to nullify Obamacare in Tennessee to pick up steam.  Our next step is to start a campaign to contact legislators to let them know that we expect them to act quickly to stop Obamacare’s implementation in Tennessee.  It is imperative that the legislators at a minimum refuse to cooperate and implement Obamcare via Exchanges or any other means.  If the states implement the exchanges state funds come into play, but if states refuse to implement the exchanges then they will be entirely federally funded.  Since the federal government doesn’t have the money to implement the exchanges in every state, without state cooperation Obamacare falls apart.

The best course of action is for the state legislature to pass a legally binding nullification of the illegal and unconstitutional Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  A sample template letter is below that you can use to send to your state legislators.  Just copy and paste the text below, or write your own letter if you prefer.  If you are not certain who your state legislator is, click here to use the Find Your Legislator tool on the Tennessee General Assembly’s web site.

If you haven’t already, click on the “Sign Petition” button on the right hand side of the page to sign the Nullify Obamacare in Tennessee Petition.

Template Letter to Tennessee Legislators

To all those who are elected to serve the people of Tennessee, under an oath to stand for the Constitution:

When the Constitution was young in 1798, the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed, which featured a provision that made speaking ill of the government a crime. Kentucky, led by Thomas Jefferson, and Virginia, led by James Madison, helped pass nullification resolutions in opposition of the  unconstitutional legislation.  Fast forward five decades and multiple northern states took a stand to nullify the pro-slavery fugitive slave laws, federal legislation that demanded runaway slaves be returned to their owners.

The extended history lesson will be spared further, but take note of this. Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and defended the unconstitutional expansion of federal power.  The Tennessee General Assembly has chosen to wait for the Supreme Court decision instead of outright nullifying and refusing to comply with the PPACA.  All the while knowing that the Supreme Court’s record on decreasing federal powers and striking down unconstitutional federal acts is abysmal.

The Supreme Court, as history suggested it would, let the Constitution down and voted to uphold an expansion of federal powers. After all that wasted time and money, we now stand at a critical point. President Barack Obama was just delivered a victory and one he will surely ride into November, and if his reelection stands, the court could swing more against the Constitution. Will the court save us then?

Thomas Jefferson once wrote in a letter that he found the view that the court is the top authority was wrong, for it would reduce us to an oligarchy. He later observed that the safest depository for the powers is in the people. These are the same people who delegate the authority to the government so it may exist, and the same people who put their faith in you to defend their interests, by voting for you.

How would he suggest we respond? How should we respond to Obamacare? Nullification. This is “the rightful remedy”, according to Thomas Jefferson, as written in the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798. James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution”, would write in the Virginia Resolutions of 1798 that it is the duty of the State to interpose when these violations occur.

Many of your colleagues have involved themselves in the spread of the anti-Obamacare rhetoric, and even the anti-Obama rhetoric in general. The federal takeover of the healthcare industry is bad and it’s a soundbite that works well with re-election campaigns in full swing. But do you believe it? If you do honestly, then there’s only one solution left: nullification.

Do you really believe that Obamacare must be stopped? If you do, then the only solution is to not wait until after the election to introduce legislation, but convene an emergency session of the legislature to enact nullification legislation immediately.

But then again, this all could be just a simple election stunt. We’re going into November and in addition to votes, you require money to campaign for enough votes. It could be just rhetoric to feed your audience. If I’m wrong, however, then it’s your moment to prove it. The time is now to act.

Are you prepared to do more than just spout anti-Obamacare rhetoric?

Are you prepared to stand for something?

Are you prepared to do the right thing?

If you are, then there can be only one course, to nullify Obamacare now and not wait until November.

We can make this happen.

Thank you for listening and I look forward to the action you will take for the citizens of Tennessee.

For liberty,

Your Name

 

Editorial Note:  Thanks to Chris Dixon of Maine TAC for providing the starting point for the text of the letter.

Lesley Swann

The 10th Amendment

“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.”

LEARN MORE

01

Featured Articles

On the Constitution, history, the founders, and analysis of current events.

featured articles

02

Tenther Blog and News

Nullification news, quick takes, history, interviews, podcasts and much more.

tenther blog

03

State of the Nullification Movement

232 pages. History, constitutionality, and application today.

get the report

01

Path to Liberty

Our flagship podcast. Michael Boldin on the constitution, history, and strategy for liberty today

path to liberty

02

Maharrey Minute

The title says it all. Mike Maharrey with a 1 minute take on issues under a 10th Amendment lens. maharrey minute

Tenther Essentials

2-4 minute videos on key Constitutional issues - history, and application today

TENTHER ESSENTIALS

Join TAC, Support Liberty!

Nothing helps us get the job done more than the financial support of our members, from just $2/month!

JOIN TAC

01

The 10th Amendment

History, meaning, and purpose - the "Foundation of the Constitution."

10th Amendment

03

Nullification

Get an overview of the principles, background, and application in history - and today.

nullification