Republicans gained control of the House last month on a promise to "restore the Constitution." So it is no small irony that one of their first orders of business is an attempt to rewrite the Constitution.
Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), a member of the House GOP's majority transition committee,introduced a constitutional amendment that would allow a group of states to nullify federal laws with which they disagree.
Bishop continues, "I actually hope to have a series of statutes and amendments -- several amendments and several statutes -- that we can introduce this year," Bishop continued, "with the sole goal of not just cutting down the power of Washington to do things to people, but more importantly, is to empower states."
The Repeal Amendment , as proponents call it, has won the endorsement of the man who will be the next House majority leader, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
To be added to the Constitution, the amendment will have to be approved by both chambers of Congress and 38 state legislatures. That will be a difficult task, but the Tea Party has been whipping up considerable anger toward the government — often disingenuously.
Under the so-called repeal amendment, states could undo any federal law or regulation they don't like, as long as 34 state legislatures agree on the point.
It would mean that after federal lawmakers hold hearings, maneuver around partisan gridlock, push the bill through committee, modify it to gain votes, muster a majority in the House, persuade a super-majority in the Senate and win a presidential signature to finally enact a law, states could repeal it.
No one has to go to court to claim the law is unconstitutional or even just plain bad.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Tea-party-vs-the-Constitution-919959.php#ixzz19KHZN7EH
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