Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that sought to protect state sovereignty failed in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday in a 6 to 3 vote.
Four of the six no votes belonged to Republican Senators Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10), Tom Hatcher (R-Maryville-District 2), Ed Jackson (R-Jackson-District 25), and Committee Chair Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville-District 7).
Sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), Senate Bill 2657 (SB2657) was far from the first attempt to pass legislation to enact the “Restoring State Sovereignty Through Nullification Act.”
The companion House Bill (HB2610), sponsored by Representative Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport-District 2), was referred to the House Calendar and Rules Committee earlier this month.
The legislation sought to establish processes by which the Tennessee General Assembly may nullify an unconstitutional federal statute, regulation, agency order, or executive order.
Recognizing that the United States Congress is denied certain lawmaking powers by the First Amendment and that the U.S. Constitution also denies the federal government powers “not delegated to it,” conservative legislators have attempted to get the legislation passed for years.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
