Stevens measure reaffirms Washington’s state sovereignty
Published on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 by Sen. Val StevensRead More County & State
OLYMPIA…In conjunction with today’s State Sovereignty Winter Fest rally at the Capitol, Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, introduced a bill that would petition the federal government to uphold the 10thAmendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects states’ rights.
The 10th Amendment reads, “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.”
“Our forefathers knew they needed a centralized government to coordinate the needs of our individual states,” Stevens said. “But they also knew that government closest to the people was best. So they crafted the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or state’s rights.
“Our forefathers would be amazed at the amount of federal control over our states today. Hundreds of federal mandates have been passed requiring state and local governments to take action – from the way voters are registered, to education and health care.
“Senate Joint Memorial 8018 would remind our federal government of the 10th Amendment. It firmly declares our state’s sovereignty under that amendment. The bill also demands the federal government stop passing down mandates that are beyond the scope of its constitutionally delegated powers.”
Legislators in at least 14 other states have introduced 10th Amendment legislation.
The 10th Amendment reads, “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.”
“Our forefathers knew they needed a centralized government to coordinate the needs of our individual states,” Stevens said. “But they also knew that government closest to the people was best. So they crafted the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or state’s rights.
“Our forefathers would be amazed at the amount of federal control over our states today. Hundreds of federal mandates have been passed requiring state and local governments to take action – from the way voters are registered, to education and health care.
“Senate Joint Memorial 8018 would remind our federal government of the 10th Amendment. It firmly declares our state’s sovereignty under that amendment. The bill also demands the federal government stop passing down mandates that are beyond the scope of its constitutionally delegated powers.”
Legislators in at least 14 other states have introduced 10th Amendment legislation.
