An overflowing and enthusiastic crowd crammed the State Capitol rotunda Wednesday morning, January 13th. They were there to lend their support to the state legislators behind the “State Sovereignty” efforts.
State Senators Jane Cunningham and Jim Lembke provided an update on the status of Senate Joint Resolution No. 25 (SJR-25). This resolution, along with a similar resolution in the House (House Joint Resolution No. 57), will provide for an Amendment to the State Constitution that will assert state sovereignty rights and prevent provisions of any health care legislation enacted in Washington from being imposed upon Missouri residents. It will prevent the federal government from compelling “any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system.” The Constitutional Amendment is to be submitted to Missouri voters in November. Full bill text can be found here.
Senator Cunningham stated that the resolution currently has 20 sponsors in the Senate (out of 34 Senators). It is almost unprecedented to have so many co-sponsors in the Senate. She also stated that 26 other states are working on similar resolutions (Arizona has already passed theirs).
State Representative Tim Jones explained why this legislation is necessary, regardless of the outcome of legislation in Washington. He stated that he has 75 co-sponsors in the House for HJR-57. He pointed out that there are 163 Representatives in the House, so he still needs seven more votes to pass this resolution, although he expressed confidence that he will secure them. Read the entire bill.
State Representative Brian Nieves “batted clean-up” and roused the crowd with his rendition of “What will you say you did during the ‘Patriot Uprising’ in 2010?” and explained how important it was for all those in attendance to support this effort.
Annette Read of I Heard the People Say and Cindy McGee of Show Me Patriots also provided comments and instructions for the day. Following the remarks, the participants were provided with “Lobbying” cards and set about to visit with their State Senator and Representative, as well as four state leaders (Speaker Ron Richard, House Floor Leader Steve Tilley, President Pro Tem Charlie Shields and Senate Floor Leader Kevin Engler).
Those in attendance were also able to attend three concurrent workshops:
- Dave Roland: “An Arsenal for Liberty – State and Federal Constitutional Protections for Health Care Freedom”
- Paul Curtman: “Constitutional Principles of State Sovereignty”
- Kerry Messer: “Communicating Effectively in a Political Windstorm”
Videos from the rally can be found at http://www.conservativetvonline.com/.
