By: Gregg Jones, Union Missourian Editor
State Rep. Brian Nieves said he will sponsor legislation in the upcoming session intended to send a message to the federal government to “cease and desist.”
Nieves, of Union, who is in his final year as state representative of the 98th District has said he intends to run for the 26th District Senate seat.
This session, he will propose a “state sovereignty resolution” – not a bill – that will “force a showdown between the federal government and the state of Missouri.”
The 96th session of the Missouri General Assembly began Wednesday, Jan. 6. The resolution will be unveiled during a rally Jan. 13, Nieves explained. He said the “Patriotic Resistance” rally will be held at the state Capitol to support legislators, not solely Nieves, who are filing and supporting state rights legislation.
“In essence this resolution is a pretty hard hitting, in your face resolution to the federal government that draws a line in the sand and says, ‘you have gone too far and are too accustomed to straying from the Constitution,’” Nieves told The Missourian. “It is time to cease and desist.”
Nieves said his resolution will go “hand in hand” with a bill to amend the state constitution prefiled by Rep. Tim Jones, R-Eureka. The Jones bill would “protect” Missourians from federal health care mandates, and small businesses from fines for not participating in a federal health care mandate.
“It (Jones bill) will literally nullify any attempt to force health control on Missourians,” said Nieves.
He explained that his resolution is an effort to clear a path for the Jones bill. “My House concurrent resolution, with broad strokes, says ‘We just ain’t taking it no more,’” he said.
The wording in the resolution states that there are powers, too numerous to list, exercised by both Democrats and Republicans – this resolution is putting the federal government on notice,” Nieves added. The state of Missouri has recognized that you, the federal government is working outside the Constitution.”
Other Issues
Nieves spoke at length about the state sovereignty resolution, but said other issues also will “dominate the session,” including the budget and economic development.
“Everybody knows that budget is a nightmare,” he said.
There has been a drop in state revenue, down about 10 percent, according to some estimates.
“A job creation bill also is important,” Nieves added.
Anti-Meth Law
Nieves said that laws to limit pseudoeophedrine will be debated again this year.
“What outcome of that will be, I don’t know,” he said. “That has become such a controversial issue. Last year, in the House, it never made it out of the rules committee.” he said. “The wording is really going to determine if I support it – just how far-reaching it is and how much of an inconvenience to people of state it will be.”
“Don’t know what this year’s product is going to look like,” he added.
A statewide measure requiring prescriptions to buy medicines containing pseudoeophedrine – the vital ingredient needed to make methamphetamine – died in committee last year, leading advocates to begin a grassroots effort to pass the law at the city and county levels.
Ethics Reform
There are three different ethics reform bills that have been prefiled in the House and Senate, all with different ideas and approaches.
“I think you’ve got the governor in favor, both Republicans and Democrats are in favor,” said Nieves “I think that there is a very good chance for ethics reform – there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of resistance.”
He said changes have to be made because legislators can become lobbyists as soon as they leave office and funds are transferred from committee to committee so those funds are not as easily tracked.
“The money laundering game finally finds way to a candidate,” Nieves said. “Just some basic ethics reform is going to be in line. I think it is supported by the majority of legislators.”
See original article here.
