Libertarians lose anti-stimulus fight in NH
Associated Press | Mar 4, 2009
By TRAVIS ANDERSEN
The New Hampshire House killed a resolution affirming state sovereignty on Wednesday, dashing the hopes of conservative activists who say the federal government should quit meddling in local affairs.
The House rejected Republican Daniel Itse’s resolution by a vote of 216-150. Itse’s supporters booed from the gallery when the vote came down, briefly disrupting the session.
The resolution said New Hampshire could ignore any federal laws or policies that violated the Constitution. Itse had targeted many policies, including the stimulus bill, the No Child Left Behind Act and any new assault rifle ban.
Similar resolutions are pending in at least 15 states. The sponsors – overwhelmingly Republican – say the stimulus bill is just the latest in a series of unconstitutional acts dating to the New Deal. Critics say the sponsors are misreading the Constitution.
Though it failed in the House, Itse’s resolution had strong support from libertarian-leaning groups. Hundreds of activists gathered outside the Statehouse before the vote. They kept up a chorus of small-government chants – including “No King Obama” – and waved signs bearing the message of state sovereignty.
Keene resident Daniel Muehl-Miller held a sign that read “Secession is a Human Right.”
“I’m here to support (the resolution) because the federal government has overstepped its bounds by leaps and bounds,” he said.
