Eye On Boise

Sovereignty resolution wins support

March 18, 2009 8:18 a.m. • 13 comments

A non-binding memorial declaring Idaho’s sovereignty from the federal government cleared the House State Affairs Committee this morning, at the urging of Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries. Harwood said the federal government shouldn’t pressure states to do this or that or face losing federal funding. “What this bill is about is sovereignty, that we have a right to govern ourselves in them areas,” Harwood told the committee. “All this bill really does is reinstates what the Constitution says about the 10th Amendment, and asks the federal government to cease and desist in this kind of action and to be good neighbors.” Testifying in favor of the resolution was Rep. Lenore Hardy Barrett, R-Challis, who told the panel, “I know that everybody here believes in state sovereignty. We talk the talk, we don’t always walk the walk.” She said, “If you believe in this you need to support this, and if you don’t support it, I’m going to assume you don’t believe in it.” Rep. JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, who like Barrett is a co-sponsor of the measure, said, “Almost every year we get a piece of legislation or some information that says if we don’t get this, they’re gonna withhold our money. And you know, we paid that money in.”

Citizen Lori Shoemaker told the committee, “Centralized government is dangerous - that’s against the American way.” Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard, said, “I have never in my life received so many emails as I have on this one. … Not a single one was anti. Therefore I would move that HJM 4 be sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.” A handful of supporters in the audience burst into applause at the vote of approval.

13 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

thomg57 on March 18 at 9:56 a.m.
Just another example of taxpayer funded time-wasting by our state legislators—”A non-binding memorial” The taxpayers spend $30,000 per day to keep the legislature in session and the squander it with foolishness and puffery.
thomg57 on March 18 at 10:01 a.m.
Great would these legislators now “walk the walk” and send back all the federal monies that flow to Idaho.
toadman on March 18 at 12:06 p.m.
Seriously? Idaho wants to become a sovereign nation of some sort? Wow.. amazing.. and indeed, stupid.
Sisyphus on March 18 at 12:25 p.m.
Toadman, how nice to see you over here. Yup, it ironically makes these people feel they have power by passing impotent legislation. The nice thing is about all this time wasting is that you can pick out the wingnuts much more easily by just listing the advocates. There’s a dissection of Mr. Harwood’s defense of the proposal here:

http://www.43rdstateblues.com/?q=node/5831
Lizard_People on March 18 at 2:29 p.m.
You can’t fool me Thom, if it was some kind of socialist anti-american “taxpayer funded time-wasting” non-binding memorial, Thom, you’d be all for it.
scootermom on March 18 at 3:49 p.m.
Hanky waving. That’s all it is. Harwood waving his hanky to the Feds, saying “Yoo, hoo, I have something to say.”

Complete waste of time and resources. Gives legislators the appearance of action, when in fact they’re doing nothing.
Lizard_People on March 18 at 6:29 p.m.
It may very well be hanky waving, but it’s all we have. All the city councils who passed anti-torture resolutions duting the Bush regime were just hanky waving also, but I suppose you view that a little more charitably, I hope.

Partisans on both sides make me sick.