Comments about ‘Utah Legislature: States’ rights resolutions pass in Senate’

We all remember the last time "States' Rights" was an issue.

It was during the civil rights movement, when states wanted to insure that only white people could vote, and that the federal government could not intercede.

I, for one, remember George Wallace standing at the door, blocking the entrance of the black students.

FRANKLY, Utah, it's obvious what's going on here. You didn't start this talk, until we had a black President. Stephenson is another George Wallace, trying to block ANY influence a black man may have within the State of Utah.

I HOPE YOU WIN, Stephenson! Secede, with Texas!

You'll lose Hill AFB, Tooele AD, ALL federal aid to the schools, ALL federal money (which you get more of than you pay in federal taxes) AND....think about what Texas will lose! How many military bases? NASA?

Nah....Utah doesn't need the federal government. Go out and filthy-up the environment, and I'll move away, and take my high state taxes with me.

Welcome to the twentyfirst century Utah. The Civil War settled that question long ago. State's right is another way of saying special interests. Its easier for wealthy fat cats )to buy a state politician than a national one, and way cheaper to force policy that favors it.

Of course we get more in Federal money than we pay in taxes, so do most other states, isn't that why we are in debt?
Plus, how much of Utah is federally managed? Only Nevada has more federally managed lands. We aren't allowed to use lands within our state so we need to be recompensed for that.

I don't trust our state legislatures to do right by the people once they get complete and total unfettered control, which is what this resolution is actually about.

The Constitution continues to say what it always has. No one has repealed the 10th amendment. No one proposes to do so. As the government continues to tread over the rights and privileges of states, it is the responsibilities of the states to, respectfully, refuse to comply.

It appears the bulk of the problem occurs when there is $$ tied to the laws. We just can't give up that need for federal $. But we need to. We show our independence by exercising it. Don't let the feds bribe us into giving up our state prerogatives.

Republicans are big on "states rights" as long as every state does what THEY like . W Bush was a big states rights guy until the voters of Oregon passed an assisted suicide law. Then W Bush wasnt so much the states rights guy. I wonder if the big states rights guy s will be OK when numerous states start legalizing gay marriage. Our eardumbs will break with the GOP yelling for a FEDERAL constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage . GOP Phonies all of em.

How sad. When your health insurance cost's rocket over 110% in the next 10 years, and people are screaming to see a doctor that dosen't cost $10k, Utah will have to repeal this law to make way for the goverment healthcare.

As private healthcare will be too expensive for most Americans to have.

To Ever Notice: that's great, but you didn't address the issue of how Democrats violate the reserved powers doctrine. Two wrongs don't make a right.
I would be happy to address the gay marriage issue exclusively at the state level if we can do the same with abortion, social security, health care, family planning, and everything else that doesn't fall under the Federal Government's enumerated powers.
The Federal income tax was unfortunately instituted to finance the Civil War, an enumerated function of the federal government. Ever since then we have justified using those dollars and other withholdings to finance various entitlements that have nothing to do with the Federal Government's constitutional purpose. All restraint was thrown out the window in the 1930's and 60's and it has completely snowballed up to the present day. It's time to turn things back the other way, otherwise, the system will collapse and we will have no choice but to start over. The federal government simply cannot govern and fund every aspect of our lives. It is unsustainable. It is not self-government. It is run-away bureaucracy that leads to oligarchy.

In a time when the budget is bare boned why are we taking on these no-win resolutions?
Now we have to spend money to defend a law that will be overturned.
wasting money over and over

Funny to listen to the Mr. Stephenson's concern for state's rights. What about the rights of the citizens of the state of Utah to see their state government function in an open transparent method, rather than all the decisions being made in the republican caucus meetings. I wish he was concerned about the citizens of the state of Utah and their rights.

State's rights. Way to go Stephenson! Another law that if more than likely unconsitutional will require taxpayers money to fight for implementation.. Why don't you and the rest of the right wing element of the Republican Party just sponsor a bill to recede from the UNION?
GOVEFRNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE BY RIGHT WING REPUBLICANS. More of the same.

So if I buy a home made shotgun for home defense and shorten the barrel more than federal law allows. A federal agent could still arrest me -- right?

What exact benefit does this law provide that I don't have now?

Wow--Stephenson proposing a law that isn't against public schools and teachers--what a surprise! Our legislature is not just leaning to the right, they are lying on their right sides! Maybe this fight in the courts is what the legislature has been saving the "rainy day" fund for. I think the money to fight this fight ought to come from the legislator's pockets. Maybe they would think twice.

Here is another example of states trying to trample on the rights and powers of the federal government. The 10th amendment DOES NOT grant states sovereignty instead Article VI, Section 1, Clause 2 states that "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land" and contrary to the claims of people like Stephenson the 10th amendment does not say anything about enumerated powers.

It 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."

The legislative power to make general laws for the general welfare is provided for in Article I, Section 1, Clause 1; Article I, Section 8, Clause 1; Article I, Section 8, Clause 18; and Article VI, Section 1, Clause 2 among others.

This resolution like similar ones are a violation of the U.S. Constitution and a violation of the rights of Americans and every other state and Utah needs to mind its own business.

I'm glad to see our legislature is joining with other a lot of other state legislatures to send a message to Washington DC that they're getting too intrusive and butting into business that is not theirs to begin with. It's about freedom, people.

It's up to the We The People to remind all governments who they're supposed to represent. I hope our state legislators remember this too. They are supposed to represent all citizens' interests, not just a special few.

HOw much money are we going to spend fighting for this bill. We need to stop passing these idiotic messaage bills and start focusing on solutions to the ills of our society.

...how this States' Rights bill comes up at the same time as Eagle Mountain's own Sen Madsen wants to combine the MLK and John M. Browning birthdays?

What more evidence do you need, that instead of doing away with the twelfth grade in public schools, that we need to add two more years -- retroactively?

WHERE do these taxpayer-funded regressives get their education? Homskool?

So many people have become so accustomed to the Federal government running programs that the states should be running that they panic when any mention is made of states rights.

As for money, almost all federal money was collected by the states with some of it sent back with strings attached.

The federal government has certain enumerated rights. All the rest are for the people and the states. Some people here have forgotten that. Sad.

I have to concur with comment #1. If utah wants to be the CSA, it is even more hopeless than i had thought yesterday.

If the Governor vetos the Bill that allows the state to control guns and ammo made in the state he will start his undoing for the election. I will not support him if he can't understand the 2nd ammendment and intrastate commerce are rights the constitution gives us all.
The Governor does not determind the constitutionallity of bills. He only gets advice from lawyers not the state Supreme court.