In addition to the health care and free enterprise legislation going before the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday, there are several other important bills that need our support this week.
The issuance of a state attorney general opinion that leaves out the most important part of the Constitutionโs supremacy clause and then proceeds to completely misconstrue the remainder has rightfully prompted a backlash among our state legislators in Nashville (read the Attorney Generalโs opinion here and the Tenth Amendment Centerโs official response here). On Monday, two resolutions will go before the full Senate to deal with Attorney General Cooperโs refusal to join other states in a lawsuit against the federal governmentโs overreaching health care legislation. The first, SJR897, is a resolution to urge the attorney general to join the lawsuit being championed by other states against ObamaCare.
The second resolution would amend the Tennessee Constitution to provide for the popular election of the attorney general. Currently the attorney general is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court, whose members are in turn appointed by the governor. This leaves the citizens of Tennessee with neither a direct or indirect voice in the selection of the stateโs attorney general. SJR698 would correct this problem.
The first of the health care bills for which we have been advocating will go before the full house on Monday as well. HJR704 is a resolution that expresses the state of Tennesseeโs protest at the passage of the new federal health care legislation.
Additional legislation includes bills regarding foreign defamation judgments, restricting the governorโs authority to confiscate firearms and related items, cap and trade, and two bills that would increase private health insurance opportunities for Tennesseans.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE
- Brian & Kathleenโs Misguided Adventure: The Tenth Amendment for Dummies - November 12, 2013
- Why Doesn’t the Tenth Amendment Center Endorse Political Candidates? - October 7, 2013
- Madison County Tennessee Passes โInternet Sales Tax Opposition Resolutionโ - April 17, 2013