COLUMBUS, Ohio - September 27, 2011 - In a sign of the divisive political times in which we live, there have been more calls in recent years for a reassertion of local sovereignty over federal control.
Now comes a movement in Ohio that supporters say is all about reclaiming what they believe is the state's lost sovereignty to a habitually overreaching and controlling federal government.
According to the group's web site, the movement is aimed at bringing "government back into compliance with the [state and federal] Constitutions and serve the best interests of the people," by restoring "the fundamental principles of good government, under God, and with such leadership that we can bring integrity, honor and dignity back into the institutions of government."
Supporters are attempting to introduce a so-called "sovereignty amendment" to Ohio's constitution that they say will more closely reflect the will and sentiment of state citizens.
"Ohio perpetually retains its sovereignty over the federal government. It is a principal duty of the state of Ohio to exercise all measures appropriate under the circumstances to protect the people in Ohio from all unconstitutional interference by the federal government or its agents," says Subsection 1-C of the proposed amendment.
"The state of Ohio shall operate solely as a free and independent republic and within the Union of federated states comprising The United States of America, and its government shall faithfully, diligently, and prudently exercise all powers and authorities granted to it by this Constitution,"
Working off the premise that every state citizen has "fundamental rights" including "life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness," the sovereignty amendment basically seeks to restrict both the state and federal governments from usurping those and other rights. It seeks to establish that the state's constitution "is the supreme law for Ohio," and that "no law, rule, regulation or other governing provision shall be enacted, established, enforced or otherwise implemented or applied contrary to the provisions, purposes, or intent of this Constitution."
"Our Founding Fathers understood that the separation and balance between state and federal powers in our federalist Republic system of government would help to preserve the checks and balances required to protect the freedoms of the people and prevent acts of tyranny by government," adds state Senator Tim Grendell of Ohio's 8th district. "As a legislator elected to serve the people in Ohio, it is my duty to uphold the state and federal Constitutions and to protect the people in Ohio from abuses by government."
