In 2009, the bank and auto bailouts, the passage of the $787 billion dollar stimulus bill, the 400+ spending bill, and the deliberations over healthcare and energy have sparked outrage in voters. While Federal intrusion in state business is not new (Medicaid, No Child Left Behind, RealID, to name a few), there is a new call for an assertion of state sovereignty, vis-à-vis the 10th Amendment.

Leading the way in this fight was the state of Oklahoma, which passed a resolution in February 2009 serving notice to the Federal government to “cease and desist” from passing mandates not articulated within the proper limited scope of governmental powers. According to Oklahoma State Representative Charles Key, “The more we stand by and watch the federal government get involved in areas where it has no legal authority, we kill the Constitution a little at a time. The last few decades, the Constitution has been hanging by a thread.”

If you’re curious about the Tenth Amendment Movement, check out this interactive map showing states that have passed, introduced, or defeated (only Arkansas), state sovereignty legislation. The legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia will be considering at least three bills related to 10th Amendment rights in the 2010 session. Delegate Peace is sponsoring a resolution of state sovereignty; Delegate Bob Marshall is sponsoring the Virginia Healthcare Freedom Act (VHFA) which rightly challenges the over-reach of Washington into Americans’ healthcare choice; and finally, Delegate Carrico is sponsoring the Virginia Firearms Freedom Act (VFFA) challenging Washington’s regulation of firearms manufactured and retained in the Commonwealth.

This is going to be an interesting General Assembly session!!! Virginia’s citizens cannot sit back and watch this as sport. We must get involved and follow these bills through committee and onto the floors of the House and Senate, exerting pressure on our representatives all along the way.