A group of Republican state legislators in South Carolina is in the process of implementing a broad and multifaceted legislative agenda to verify what they believe to be an illegal violation from Washington, DC
Among the bills that aim at tyranny? Legislation providing for the cancellation of “illegal executive orders” issued by the administration of the US President Joe Biden.
Sound familiar? South Carolina was at the center of an annulment crisis 189 years ago, when the former US vice president John C. Calhoun – whose statute was recently purged from downtown Charleston, SC – proposed the theory that state governments can declare federal laws “null and void” in their jurisdictions.
Operating on this theory, the state of Palmetto overturned two federal tariffs – which prompted the federal government to pass a “use of force” bill against the state. The crisis was averted when a compromise tariff was passed on March 2, 1833 – when South Carolina and the federal government retreated from their previous positions (each declaring victory).
A new annulment bill is due to be presented this month by the state representative Bill Taylor de Aiken, SC – a key part of what he and other lawmakers are calling the “pushback agenda”.
“Who can step on the brakes and face a federal government that intimidates its citizens? State legislatures, ”Taylor wrote in a recent email to his constituents in District 86 of the SC City Council (.pdf). “This is what our founders wanted – they wanted limited federal government and strong state governments. Historically, state legislatures have provided better representation because it is the government closest to the people and best understands unique local and regional issues. “
According to Taylor, state legislatures across the country “are preparing to assert their legitimate authority”.
“I hope it is not too late,” he added.
Taylor’s annulment bill – which he plans to present next week – would require South Carolina to “ignore illegal White House executive orders that are unconstitutional.” Specifically, this would require the SC attorney general’s office Alan Wilson to “review the constitutionality of executive orders”. Assuming they are considered “illegal or unconstitutional, the executive order would be overturned and not enforced” in South Carolina.
“Remember that the liberally inclined states have been doing this for years,” wrote Taylor, citing the establishment of sanctuary cities for illegal aliens.
Another bill to be presented this week would invoke a resolution passed in December 1799 by the Kentucky legislature, which considered that any law passed by the federal government that exceeded its enumerated powers was “completely null and void”. This project will be sponsored by the state deputy Bill Chumley from Spartanburg, SC
Also included in the “pushback agenda” is H. 3205 – an updated version of the bill of the Convention of States that made significant legislative progress a year ago.
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Like last year’s draft “COS” legislation, this bill would make a request to the US Congress on behalf of the SC General Assembly to “convene a state amendment convention under Article V” of the US Constitution .
This convention would be “limited to proposing amendments to the United States Constitution that impose fiscal restrictions on the federal government, limit the federal government’s power and jurisdiction, and limit the mandates of its officials and members of Congress.”
According to Taylor, the draft Convention of States “is the legal way to control the federal government” or “the necessary rebellion without bullets”.
Speaking of bullets, the “regression agenda” includes H. 3710 – which would alter the state’s constitution to clarify the right to bear arms as “a fundamental and inalienable right, especially in defense of oneself or our state”. An open transport bill (with training) sponsored by the state representative Bobby Cox de Greenville, SC – H. 3094 – is also on the agenda.
Legislation to prevent censorship on social networks – H. 3450, sponsored by state deputy Mike Burns de Taylors, SC – is also part of the initiative, as well as another bill sponsored by Burns (H. 3491), which would repress mob violence by making it a crime to “illegally obstruct public roads and highways”. Burns’ bill states that anyone “instigating, helping or participating” in a riot would also be subject to mandatory restitution to victims.
The “setback agenda” also incorporates a series of bills targeting various government decrees issued during the coronavirus pandemic – including a bill that would protect religious freedom (H .. 3105), which would ensure that Covid vaccines -19 were not mandatory (H. 3217), one that would void the application of masked federal mandates (H. 3218), two bills that would protect companies from Covid-related liabilities (H. 3597 and H. 3698) and one which would limit the emergency authority of the governor’s office during states of emergency (H. 3443).
Is it likely to be among the most popular components of the agenda with primary Republican voters? A bill (H. 3410) sponsored by the state deputy Steven Long which would require the signature of a witness to confirm any absent votes – and would require the witness to provide his driver’s license or voter registration number as verification.
Given the extent to which electoral fraud is on the Republicans’ radar this year, we are shocked that lawmakers have not joined efforts to increase electoral integrity in Palmetto State. In any case, we are looking forward to seeing what will come out of this bill – and hopefully other electoral reform proposals – as we address the need to provide better integrity and security at the ballot box last spring.
Completing the “setback agenda” are a trio of bills that target revisionist history – including legislation to protect the monuments and memorials of the State of Palmetto (H. 3249) and increase students’ knowledge of the history of the foundation of America (H. 3002).
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Ah, the agenda also includes a version of the “heartbeat bill” that was passed in the Senate of SC last month.
“There are those who will agree with much of that agenda,” Taylor wrote in his email. “Others may disagree and ask why is this necessary? Still others will complain that this is too little, too late and why worry, we have already lost. My answer – America is worth saving. It was founded on principles that the world has never experienced. Our nation is the beacon of freedom for the world and we must do everything possible to ensure that the flame of freedom does not go out. “
Our view on the “pushback schedule?” In general, it is favorable.
While we may not agree with every word in every part of the legislation, we applaud the legislators who introduce it. First of all, we applaud you for your concern for this country, its people and what will become of freedom and prosperity under the rule of the new Orwellians. In addition, we applaud them for engaging substantially in a number of issues related to the struggle for freedom and free enterprise.
Rather than speaking reflexively and engaging in the petty demonization and lowest common denominator of their ideological antagonists, these legislators (in the context of revealing this agenda, anyway) presented credible and thoughtful reform proposals designed to facilitate viable solutions to urgent problems.
Do some of these “reforms” take things a step further than we do? Yes. But in the current debate about the direction of our country, this agenda represents a vital counterpoint to the prevailing “herd thinking”.
We look forward to starting the debate on the “resistance agenda” and its individual provisions in the coming days and weeks …
-FITSNews
(SPONSORED CONTENT)
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Flag: Bill Taylor for SC House
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