On May 11, 2009, the Louisiana State Senate voted unanimously in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (SCR2), which “Memorializes Congress to affirm Louisiana’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and to demand that the federal government halt its practices of assuming powers and imposing mandates upon the states for purposes not enumerated by the Constitution of the United States of America.”

The resolution, introduced by Senator Crowe, passed 32-0, and was received by the Louisiana House on 05-12-09.

Here’s the full text of the resolution:

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To memorialize the Congress of the United States of America to affirm Louisiana’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America and to demand that the federal government halt the practice of assuming powers and imposing mandates upon the states for purposes which are not enumerated by the Constitution of the United States of America.

WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America reads as follows: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”; and

WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America defines the total scope of federal power as being that specifically granted to the Constitution of the United States of America and no more; and

WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America means that the federal government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states; and

WHEREAS, today, in 2009, the states are demonstrably treated as agents of the federal government; and

WHEREAS, many powers assumed by the federal government as well as federal mandates are in direct violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has ruled in New York v. United States, 112 S.Ct. 2408 (1992), thatCongressmay not simply commandeer the legislative and regulatory processes of the states; and

WHEREAS, a number of proposals from previous administrations and some pending with the present administration aswell as fromCongressmayfurther violate theConstitution of the United States of America.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana memorializes the Congress of the United States of America that the legislature affirms Louisiana’s sovereignty under the TenthAmendment to theConstitution of theUnited States ofAmerica over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States of America.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana also demands that the federal government halt and reverse its practice of assuming powers and imposing mandates upon the states for purposes not enumerated by the Constitution of the United States of America.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States Congress and to the president of the United States of America and to the governor of Louisiana.

Michael Boldin