Eye On Boise

Harwood: ‘They oughta back off’

at 8:28 a.m. on March 3 Comments (63)

Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, wants Idaho to declare its sovereignty from the federal government. He persuaded the House State Affairs Committee, on a 13-4 vote, to introduce his resolution this morning, though some members objected to his contention that it could save the state millions of dollars. “One of the things the states did, they created the federal government as an agent for theirselves,” Harwood told the committee, and quoted George Washington. “We have 31 states that have done this … declared their sovereignty,” he said. He cited the federal No Child Left Behind Act, EPA regulation of air quality, and endangered species rules as examples of the federal government impeding the state’s sovereignty, and objected to the feds telling the state “you gotta do this or else. We think they oughta back off and let the states govern themselves a little bit.”

Rep. Anne Pasley-Stuart, D-Boise, objected that the bill was “over-reactionary” and said, “It alarms me that we are taking a step to the far right at a time that we need to be working together.” The idea that Idaho could save millions by being free of the federal government “is very inaccurate - that’s not the case at all,” she said. Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, noted that Idaho receives federal funds for everything from Medicaid to highways. “We need to work with the federal government rather than stick a pencil in their eye,” she said. But Rep. Ken Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, said, “We don’t stand up for ourselves, who will? Our rights, our constitutional rights, are being trampled right before our eyes.” Rep. Erik Simpson said, “I personally don’t see any harm in sending a message to the federal government that the state of Idaho respects the Constitution.” Harwood said he looks forward to the committee’s full hearing on his measure.

63 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

ThomG on March 03 at 8:34 a.m.
The Idaho Legislature can give a worthless resolution like this a full hearing, but votes down an attempt to discuss the very real discrimination people suffer based upon their sexual orientation without so much as one comment or question? This is shameful.

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slfisher on March 03 at 9:14 a.m.
What would the actual effect of this bill be, were it to pass?

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BluNorthern on March 03 at 9:26 a.m.
Doesn't the state of Idaho have much bigger and real problems to deal with in our legislature than this embarrassing anti-government show boating?

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ashtraylife on March 03 at 9:40 a.m.
Apparently this is what happens when legislators have extra time while we await the Gov's stimulus money inputs…pretty ridiculous.

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ScoutMom on March 03 at 1:20 p.m.
Thinking Americans realize the federal government, under the leadership of Obama and the Democrats, has taken unprecedented steps to infringe on our constitutional rights and to nationalize American banks. Now Obama threatens to institute national health care, increase taxes, and spend trillions of dollars we do not have. These, and many other actions, are not only counter to the constitution, but also counter to the wishes of the majority of Idahoans. This is indisputable because of the overwhelming vote against Obama in November.

If our Idaho Legislature fails to protect us and our rights, we are truly exposed to all the ravages of big government run amok.

Good job, Rep. Harwood!

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darcyism on March 03 at 2:07 p.m.
Make way for the Democrats in 2010…As a matter of fact, Roll Out the Red Carpet…Thank You Idaho.

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BRR on March 03 at 3:45 p.m.
Rep Harwood you are a deep thinker and inspiring orator too but would you consider —

From a strictly monetary view, why would Idaho secede when it receives $1.21 in federal funding for every $1 in federal income tax paid? OH rock hard and misinformed ideology.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/press/sh…

Rep Harwood when you heard your followers day “America Love It Or Leave It”, you badly misunderstood.
On the other hand you have solidified your position as president of the idaho branch of the only-landowners-should -be- franchised to vote society.

Maybe the national press will pick up Betsy's piece so that Idaho can bask in more national ridicule. Spare us —
if the national media calls please decline.

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Christian on March 03 at 4:10 p.m.
After the human rights and privacy violations of the last administration, this kind of move speaks of partisanship and hypocrisy. We are asking teachers to do more with less because we have no money and our politicians use their(our) valuable time for this kind of political stunt?! So much for Republican fiscal responsibility.

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Sisyphus on March 03 at 4:13 p.m.
Scoutmom, to which constitutional rights are you referring? Now forgive me, I read your comment several times cause I thought it was pure comedy gold. But then I decided you might be serious. Really I would be sooooo upset if Obama solved the health care crisis. Or if he guaranteed the American taxpayer got some assets from the financial industry to whom we're just giving money right now. But Obama lowered my taxes. In fact it was the biggest tax cut the middle class ever had.

“If our Idaho Legislature fails to protect us and our rights, we are truly exposed to all the ravages of big government run amok.”—gold Jerry. How is the toothless resolution going to do that again?

If you are serious, you should cut down on the Hannity and watch some Seinfeld re-runs.

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Nick_Adams on March 03 at 4:14 p.m.
ScoutMom: You're knowledge of the Constitution is almost as impressive as Dick's. For those of us less familiar with our most important document, could you please provide more information on exactly which parts of the Constitution the President's agenda “runs counter to”?

Thanks!

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hmoffsuite on March 03 at 4:32 p.m.
Good job, ScoutMom

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fortboise on March 03 at 5:55 p.m.
It's hard to believe some of what comes out of Idaho's legislature sometimes.

If someone wanted to make an argument for the Feds just moving in and taking over the whole shebang here, I can't imagine a better opening statement than Mr. Harwood's.

Ignorance, incompetence *and* self-righteousness. Can't beat that combination!

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ThomG on March 03 at 8:43 p.m.
So is this where Dick gets his info?

http://www.newswithviews.com/

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BluNorthern on March 04 at 9:21 a.m.
Just refuse the stimulus money…make a real statement.
Maybe President Obama and the Feds should be appraised of
the feeling here in the Idaho Legislature…might just decide why bother
sending any money at all to Idaho…no strings attached.

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Sisyphus on March 04 at 10:05 a.m.
More comedy? As I recall our congressional delegation did apprise D.C. on the matter. The ship has sailed out of the D.C. harbor on the stimulus package Blunorthern. Does it come to Idaho or does it go to the neighboring states.

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Cabbage Boy on March 04 at 10:06 a.m.
Well done Rep, Harwood. Oh, and 31 other states have introduced these bills, so save us the “faux embarassment.”

So, we get $1.21 back for every $1 sent to washington. Where is this extra $.21 coming from? I have heard this before from other states too. Someone must be making up the extra, right?

Right?

Wrong. You think New York and California aren't getting “theirs”?

We are stealing from our kids. Considering nothing in DC happens for free and the bureaucrats are first in line for the pork, how much are we spending to get every $1 back?

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florined on March 04 at 10:20 a.m.
I think I'm beginning to see the plan here. The “get government out of our lives” school are trying an interesting tactic: elect representatives who have nothing of substance to present and encourage them to take up a lot of time with worthless, self-agrandizing puffery. Encourage them to deflect as much media attenion as possible away from those annoying, interventionist efforts such as child care regulation.

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Sisyphus on March 04 at 10:26 a.m.
Oh my florined, you are insightful.

(sigh) Just follow the link CB. Its dated but accurate. Rail all you want on money you say you don't want. Dick's 'resolution' still does nothing. And be my guest if you wanna take the chance on putting your children through a depression.

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Cabbage Boy on March 04 at 10:33 a.m.
The resolution may be similar to a memorial, but with 32 of the 50 states introducing these bills, and if some start passing, the Fedgov might have to take note that some people still value their rights.

And the fear-mongering “putting your children through a depression” is just that. Fear-mongering at best, completely backwards at worst. FDR and his New Deal spending turned a recession into the Great Depression.

Recessions are natural. Markets need to correct. Trying to spend our way out of debt is not going to help.

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slfisher on March 04 at 10:52 a.m.
Cabbage Boy, yes, that $.21 comes from other states, including New York and California, and actually they've been complaining about the fact that they are subsidizing states such as Idaho. There is talk, for example, of changing the funding formula for transportation so that we would get less money for roads.

This report describes the problem:
http://www.royce.house.gov/UploadedFi…

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ThomG on March 04 at 11:02 a.m.
CB, doesn't look like NH is going to be the first:

Libertarians lose anti-stimulus fight in NH

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/0…

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slfisher on March 04 at 11:03 a.m.
And here's a chart. Note that Idaho is #20.

http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/fe…

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slfisher on March 04 at 11:07 a.m.
And here it is as a map.

http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/ma…

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scootermom on March 04 at 11:24 a.m.
It's a hanky waver.

Resolutions have no legal impact, and they're often used to give politicians the appearance of action, when in fact they're doing nothing.

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Sisyphus on March 04 at 11:38 a.m.
“Trying to spend our way out of debt is not going to help.”—CB, this is a common phrase repeated by Republicans right now. I've asked this before but can you cite to any economists who agree that the stimulus package is a bad idea? I know there are some connected with the libertarian CATO Institute but their policies got us in the mess in the first place. I don't trust those guys anymore. Every time I watch the tv all I see are politicians talking about it, but very few economists.

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Nick_Adams on March 04 at 12:52 p.m.
“FDR and his New Deal spending turned a recession into the Great Depression.”— CB

I hear this all the time from conservatives, but I've never seen any proof of it. Any objective proof about the accuracy of that statement? Or is this just one of those things that libertarians/conservatives hope that by saying it enough people will believe it? Kinda like the false Iraqi-Al Queda connections.

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Sisyphus on March 04 at 1:06 p.m.
Geez and I missed that Nick. That's a pretty ridiculous statement to make. The market crashed in '29. The depression set in over the next two years directly as a result of Hoover's policies, not FDR's who did not take office until 1933. Hoover endeavored to instill fiscal conservatism on government tightening the money supply, destroying credit, leading to foreclosures, and the eventual demise of the financial sector who were drunk on deregulation from the roaring twenties and invested in the market. Sound familiar? Indeed, at the advent of Roosevelt's second term, fiscal conservatives prevailed on congress to tighten their belts again, which helped us to four more years of the depression. It was the biggest public works project ever devised that pulled us out, commonly called WWII.

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verndewd on March 15 at 6:22 p.m.
good job sir !!!m

For the rest that dont read legislation and presume the 6 oclock news is god of all information Youre not very patriotic. You sit there whining about little side issues that are attached to this one larger issue as if they had more importance , It speaks volumes about uninformed people to have this kind of inflammatory degredation of a good man concentrated in such a small space.

I can prove this bills umportance withouth blinking

http://www.meetup.com/sons-of-the-rep…

if you want real news look at the bills being passed dont sit there eating popcorn and condemning lou dobbs and such persons when you DONT KNOW a thing about the reality of this nation,

Wake up man

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Sisyphus on March 16 at 7:45 a.m.
Did you see that Nick? He proved the bill's “umportance withouth blinking.” Can't argue with that. And please, by all means check out the site. It might become a new favorite of mine. It has everything one needs from Wingnuttia, including an oxymoronic headline and a Spock quote.

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Nick_Adams on March 16 at 1:00 p.m.
Holy Moly! Talk about a treasure trove of tinfoilery.

Gotta love the internets.

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ThomG on March 16 at 1:38 p.m.
it's folks like 'vern' who keep electing Mr. Hardwood.

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DJSforUSA on March 25 at 9:44 p.m.
$$$$ it seems is all that is important to many in the comments I have read.. I must say this really has nothing to do with Dems or Reps, this has to do with Freedom, our Country and Liberty!

Go to www.opencongress.org read just some of the bills, perhaps if you can understand what those bills are saying, you will opt for Liberty over $$$.

Of course, if you think about it just for a minute: the way the government gets money is from tax payers, AS THE GOVERNMENT HAS NONE of IT'S OWN $$. So the $$$ you think they are giving you, if you are a tax payer, is your money to begin with! It's just that they spread it around a little, no, alot!

Do yourself a favor, stop with the TV fun time, get on the internet, find the information concerning what is happening in this country and look up quotes from our Fore Fathers, they wrote the U.S. Constitution, they, therefore, know the Constitution inside out, shown by their quotes.

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