GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Sound Off on State's Rights

Playing to populist, Tea Party roots, Republican gubernatorial candidate Paula Dockery endorsed a trio of state's rights bills today.

The state senator from Lakeland issued a statement, declaring, I am proud to announce my support today for three legislative efforts that I have co-sponsored to fight the federal governments attempts to turn the 50 sovereign states into puppet states.

"The first is Senate Memorial, SM96, which serves notice on the federal government to cease and desist from reaching beyond its constitutional powers. Remember, the Bill of Rights 10^th Amendment says: "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." Yet from intra-state commerce, to the sale of firearms, to mandates for health insurance, the federal government is on a power-grabbing roll that must be stopped.

"The second is Senate Bill 98, the Firearms Freedom Act, which says firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition for personal use manufactured in state are not subject to federal law or regulation in the State of Florida. The Commerce Clause says Congress may regulate commerce among the states, but by trying to regulate firearms made and sold within a single state, the federal government is over-reaching its authority.

"The third is Senate Joint Resolution (SJR72,) The Health Care Freedom Act, which says any "law or rule shall not compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system." The federal government has no business telling Americans how to spend their hard-earned money, let alone fining them for not buying a product like health insurance."

Responding this afternoon, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum's campaign announced through spokeswoman Kristy Campbell

"Regarding the first two bills, Attorney General McCollum has not reviewed these proposals.

"Regarding the resolution on health care, the attorney general has been a national leader in opposing federal health reform that would impede the individual rights of Floridians. He believes the individual mandate is unconstitutional, and if Congress passes legislation that includes an individual mandate, Attorney General McCollum is committed to taking legal action."