Black helicopters day at the Arizona Lege

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Tea-Publican Birthers-Birchers-Secessionists in the Arizona lege held "black helicopters" day on Thursday to advance a couple of their wild conspiracy theory bills. Arizona is sovereign land, House tells US and UN:

BlackhelicoptersbelieveIf the federal government wants to lock up U.S. citizens without trial it should not count on Arizona to cooperate, the state House announced Thursday.

Lawmakers also voted to have the United Nations butt out of trying to affect Arizona laws and policies. And the House agreed to have the state take the first steps to recognize privately minted gold and silver coins as legal tender in anticipation of the collapse of the dollar.

Underlying all these actions is the argument that Arizona is a sovereign state, and the votes stake out a position to defend that sovereignty.

The first part of HB 2573 deals with two sections of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which give [the] President Obama the authority "to use all necessary and appropriate force" to detain certain people without trial. That includes not only those who planned or aided in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but anyone who "substantially supported al-Qaida, the Taliban or associated forces."

[Actually a reauthorization of existing law, but Howie Fischer wants to feed the Obama Derangement Syndrome of the Tea-Publican Birthers-Birchers-Secessionists.]

It includes U.S. citizens and provides for military trials.

[Birther] Rep. Carl Seel, R-Phoenix, said states work with the federal government all the time to implement federal law, which he said makes it necessary for the Legislature, which sets policy, to spell out when such cooperation will be withheld.

Seel acknowledged he has no evidence Arizona is in any way helping the federal government detain U.S. citizens. But he said the legislation remains necessary.

"It could happen."

While no one debated that section of the measure, there was significant opposition, largely from Democrats – to the other part, which says state and local governments cannot recognize the United Nations or any of its declarations as legal authority here.

"Fundamentally, what this language points to is to make sure the federal government does not infringe on the civil liberties of the individuals of this state," Seel said. That includes the resolutions of the United Nations, including the 1992 Rio Declaration on environment and development, as well as any future resolutions.

[The Senate already approved the Glenn Beck "Agenda 21" wingnut conspiracy bill,  SB 1403, sponsored by the Birther Queen, Sen. Judy Burges, R-Skull Valley. Arizona Senate OKs bill rejecting UN declaration on environment.]

But House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, said there's nothing to fear.

For example, he said one provision of the Rio Declaration says human beings are at the center of development. Another says countries have a sovereign right to exploit their own resources.

At one point Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Phoenix, suggested this part of the legislation, which already has been approved by the Senate, was part of the agenda of the "black helicopter caucus," a derogatory phrase used by those who poke fun at individuals who fear a national or international military force taking control.

Tea-Publicans really need to familiarize themselves with the Supremacy Clause, Article VI, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution:

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.

The measure on coins is based on arguments that Arizona needs to be prepared to let businesses recognize gold and silver as legal tender should a zombie apocalypse or some other catastrophe occur.

During legislative hearings, supporters of SB 1439 said the value of the dollar cannot be counted on. But they said precious metals have a value that has withstood all types of economic cycles.

The U.S. Constitution bars states from minting their own coins. But supporters say this does not preclude states from recognizing the value of coins that are produced by private mints.

Nothing in the measure requires businesses to accept the coins.

Once again, Article I, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution explicitly forbids the states from issuing "bills of credit" (paper or "fiat" money) or making anything but gold and silver coin legal "tender." There is no corresponding explicit prohibition against the federal government, nor any explicit authorization. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution specifically gives Congress power to "borrow money" and also power to "coin money and regulate the value" of both U.S. and foreign coins. The federal government first issued paper money in 1861 in order to fund the Civil War by an act of Congress, the Legal Tender Act of 1862. The Legal Tender Cases, Knox v. Lee and Parker v. Davis (1871), and Juilliard v. Greenman (1884), upheld the constituionality of the Act.

Both of these bills need Senate approval.