NASHVILLE — Some legislative Republicans hope to put Tennessee government at the forefront of a national state “sovereignty” movement aimed at defending states’ rights from what conservative critics say are intrusions by the federal government.
In a meeting last week, the General Assembly’s recently created Committee of Conference and Correspondence voted to send a letter to state legislatures in the 49 others states asking them to join a “joint working group ... to enumerate the abuses of authority by the federal government and to seek repeal of the assumption of powers and the imposed mandates.”
“We really are leaders on this,” said Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, who sponsored the resolution passed by lawmakers earlier this year creating the special committee. The panel has five Republican members and one Democrat.
Only one other state has adopted a “state sovereignty” resolution pushed by conservatives.
The letter from Rep. Lynn, who is running for state Senate, lashes out at several initiatives of President Barack Obama, including a proposed health care overhaul pending before Congress.
“The role of our American government has been blurred, bent, and breached,” the Lynn letter states. “The rights endowed to us by our creator must be restored.”
The legislative panel had Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester whistling the political equivalent of the “Twilight Zone” theme at Republicans.
“I hope they are not suggesting we fight another Civil War,” Mr. Forrester said in a news release. “This is nothing short of lunacy. The Tea Party organizers and their ultra-right wing cronies began this ridiculous issue to disrupt civil debate about how to move this state and nation forward.”
Mr. Forrester said it was “unfortunate that Republican members of the state Legislature have jumped on this crazy train. Instead of focusing on real issues that concern most Tennesseans, these legislators are more concerned about grandstanding and how to divide us.”
GOP takes House
Republican Pat Marsh, of Shelbyville, Tenn., who recently won the special state House District 62 election, will be sworn in today at a morning services in the House chamber, Speaker Kent Williams, R-Elizabethton, says.
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Bill Koch will conduct the swearing in ceremony. Mr. Marsh, who owns a trucking firm, handily defeated Democrat Ty Cobb of Shelbyville.
Mr. Cobb was trying to succeed his brother, Democrat Curt Cobb, who quit the legislature to take a job as court clerk and master. Democrats now have 48 members in the 99-member chamber. Republicans have 50 members plus Rep. Williams, who hopes state GOP leaders will reinstate him as a Republican after he won the top House post with the aid of Democrats.
Rep. Williams supported Mr. Marsh’s election effort.
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I suppose it should be expected, but, nevertheless, still disappointing to see Mr. Chip Forrester trying to validate his point by disparaging the character or intent of those who are willing to be engaged in the process.
Tea Party organizers and those who participate in those events are not simply "trying to disrupt civil debate", but rather START the debate or move the issues to a place where there can even BE a debate - into the public eye and not behind closed doors.
Why is participation, engagement, or involvement being discouraged? In order to truly move this state and our nation forward, we need to encourage participation, innovation, and DEBATE. Our country was founded on those individuals who were willing to risk it all and sail across the ocean to build a new home, life and future for themselves and their families. Our country was founded on those who were willing to risk it all to venture into an unknown wilderness, or fight against the odds for equal representation. Our heritage and the qualities that made our country one of the greatest in the world are being discounted as lunacy.
As for focusing on real issues that concern most Tennesseans, our liberty and our state's sovereignty are REAL issues that concern ALL Tennesseans, Mr. Forrester.
Throwing up our hands and saying, "Let's just let the Federal Government take care of everything." IS NOT A SOLUTION to any problem. Only through a civil bebate - yes, that includes BOTH sides offering information, solutions, perspectives in a respectable manner - can we find the BEST solution for our troubles whether they are healthcare or environmental stewardship or economic stability.
This issue of reasserting a state's right to “state sovereignty"; does it mean the States will stop accepting federal dollars? If so, is the state ready to assume responsibility for its own funding withOUT the federal dollars? I somehow highly doubt it.
Tennessee's citizens are already hurting from the lack of state dollars for funding its own state health-care system. MANY out here are hurting for lack of medical care; some will die without having ANY care because they don't qualify for one illogical reason or another that somehow allow others to receive state medical care.
When Tennessee's legislators start creating state "tribes" without really knowing or understanding how and why the federally enrolled American Indians hold their relationship to the US federal government, by Tennessee's asserting its 'right' to “state sovereignty", TENNESSEE'S TAXPAYING CITIZENS will be soley responsible for the care AND funding of these "tribes" - for their health care, education, housing, economic development, etc.
As a taxpayer in Tennessee, I don't want to pay for a small group who feel they're above everyone else and require special legislation to designate themselves as a special-interest group needing more dollars than the state has to give when there are SO MANY others who are just as in need but who don't require special legislation giving them 'rights' above and beyond anyone and everyone else.
THAT is NOT right and if I'm not mistaken, against Tennessee's own Constitutional powers and abilities. Tennessee's legislators better stop and seriously consider the FULL impact of choosing to 'make a stand' against the US government (and it's so obvious it has a lot to do with the fact that Obama is now the President).
LEGISLATORS, YOU represnt US, the citizens. You do NOT represent a political party or special interest group like those wanting you to grant them 'recognition'.