Bob CollinsIt likely will never see the light of day, but three Republican Minnesota lawmakers have filed a bill for a constitutional amendment inspired by passage of the new health care law.
The bill, from Rep. Steve Drazkowski, Rep. Bruce Anderson, and Rep. (and gubernatorial candidate) Tom Emmer would prevent any federal law from taking effect in Minnesota unless two-thirds of the Minnesota House and Senate approve it The bill says:
An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the amendment is adopted, a section shall be added to article I, to read: Citizens of Minnesota are sovereign individuals, subject to Minnesota law and immune from any federal laws that exceed the federal government’s enumerated constitutional powers. A federal law does not apply in Minnesota unless that law is approved by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the legislature and is signed by the governor. Before voting to approve a federal law, each legislator must individually affirm that the legislator has read the federal law and understands it. Citizens of Minnesota enjoy inherent, natural, God-given rights as reflected in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution. Minnesota citizens have the right to seek redress for any alleged violation of these rights committed by the state of Minnesota exclusively through a jury trial in a Minnesota court and through enactment of a change in Minnesota law.
And the question that would be put to voters is:
Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to affirm the sovereignty of Minnesota citizens by requiring two-thirds legislative approval before a federal law becomes effective in Minnesota, and by ensuring the right of citizens to seek redress for any alleged violation of constitutional rights?
The proposed bill could easily be called the Constitutional Lawyer Full Employment Act of 2010.
