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April 12, 2011

Maine House passes sovereignty resolution

The Associated Press

AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives is asking Congress to respect state sovereignty.

By a 79-67 vote today, the Republican-controlled House passed the nonbinding resolution that says some congressional mandates exceed federal power. It now awaits a Senate vote.

The resolution highlights the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which lays out federal and state powers, and asserts that a number of federal mandates exceed congressional authority.

Republican Rep. Richard Cebra of Naples urged passage. Cebra cited the federal Real ID anti-terrorism requirements as an example of a law in which the government exceeded its legal bounds.

The House Democratic leader, Rep. Emily Cain of Orono, said the courts already provide a process to determine when the federal government overreaches its authority.

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