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The Con-sti-tu-tion

Minnesota Senate Republicans have introduced an amendment to the state Constitution that would require the legislature to “approve” federal laws before they would take effect.

A month ago, Virginia passed a law forbidding health insurance mandates. So did Idaho. Similar measures are on the ballots for voter approval in Arizona and Florida.

Proponents of these bills are flying their efforts under the banner of  the Tenth Amendment, claiming to be defenders of  the Constitution. They seem to have trouble remembering the supremacy clause in Article VI, though.

This is really bizarre. I thought we more or less settled this whole nullification issue back when Andrew Jackson was president. Sure, after that whole episode, there was still some lingering doubt… but my understanding is that there was a thing from 1861-1865 that cleared it all up, from a legal standpoint.

  1. Legion | April 24, 2010 at 2:36 pm | Permalink

    I continue to never understand the prevalence of the Rebel flag. I’ll grant you that it’s technically part of their “history” and all, but since when did fighting a losing war against America and killing thousands of your brethren in favor of states’ rights (to have slavery) count as patriotic?

    Follow-up question: Borders are a funny thing. Like when you cross into Nova Scotia, you’re suddenly in the South of Canada. Somehow this explains why the annual exhibition halls of Lawrencetown, NS, are constantly filled with the Rebel flag as well. America, Jr. has many notions about which wars they fought.

  2. nepharis | April 25, 2010 at 1:06 am | Permalink

    PHONY PATRIOTISM IS JINGOISM