Virginia’s House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favor of another pro-federalism measure on Monday. By a count of 65-33, the House passed HR46, the State Sovereignty Resolution.
Its summary as introduced:
Expresses the sense of the House of Delegates that the Congress of the United States be urged to honor state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and claims sovereignty for the Commonwealth under the Tenth Amendment over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States.
This isย theย legislature’sย way of politely telling the federal government to butt out of issues that are not under its constitutional purview. Unfortunately, it is also largely symbolic.
In order to enforce the constitutionalย limitations on federal power, it takes more than pretty words and symbolic resolutions. It takes politicians who are willing to riskย upsetting Washington, D.C., andย their ownย constituents, byย saying no to federal bribeย money.
Those politicians remain rare at all levels of government, but it is encouraging to noteย that last week Virginia’s House alsoย passed another, much more serious, challenge to unconstitutionalย federal power grabs: HB1438, the Intrastate Commerce Act.
HB1438 is an expansion of last year’s Firearms Freedom Act (which also passed the House of Delegates before being killed in the state Senate).ย The language of theย Firearms Freedom Actย wasย specifically intendedย to challenge the Supreme Court’sย utterly fraudulentย interpretation of the Interstate Commerce Clause, as exemplified in cases like Wickard v. Filburn and Gonzales v. Raich.
However, rather than focus solely on guns and ammo, HB1438 goes evenย further to state that any item produced and sold exclusively within Virginia is exempt from federal regulation. The House of Delegates passed that measure last week by a vote of 65-33, but it is now alsoย widely expected to die quickly in the Senate.
For such anย important bill to pass the House and yet fail toย become law for the second year in a rowย isย totallyย unacceptable. If Virginia’s political leadership is willing to leave her citizens at the mercy of growing federal authoritarianism, then that leadership must be replaced.
Thankfully,ย an electionย this November will see all 140 members of Virginia’s General Assembly face the voters. If ever there was a time for pro-liberty candidates to step forward and challenge the statists in our government, particularly thoseย in the Senate, that time is now.
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CLICK HERE to view the Tenth Amendment Centerโs 10th amendment resolution tracking page
CLICK HERE to view the Tenth Amendment Center’s model 10th Amendment Resolution, which you can send to your representatives when urging them to introduce one in your state.
CLICK HERE to track follow up actions on various issues around the country.