From Stark
State Rep. Jason Overstreet, R-42nd, has introduced a bill that would prevent any local or state official from assisting in the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens and legal residents in Washington state in most circumstances.
Overstreet’s bill, HB 2759, is entitled the Washington State Preservation of Liberty Act.
It was motivated by the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act signed into law by President Obama on Dec. 31. Overstreet argues that section 1021 of the act makes no specific exclusion for United States citizens and lawful resident aliens for conduct occurring within the United States. Even though President Obama acknowledged he had the authority to indefinitely detain citizens and legal aliens, and said he would not exercise that authority, many people believe it remains incredible that he would be given such unconstitutional powers in the first place, Overstreet said.
“Winning the war against terror cannot come at the great expense of eviscerating the unalienable rights recognized by and protected in the United States Constitution and the Washington State Constitution,” Overstreet said in a press release. “Undermining these constitutional rights serves only to concede to the terrorists’ demands of changing the fabric of what has made the United States a republic, granting the greatest number of people the greatest amount of freedom.”
Perhaps some people who were attacking Overstreet’s gold legislation will give him some applause for this one.
Applause. We ought not to be cooperating with this infringement. From an historical perspective Great Britain used the same method on their own citizens. Did not work out so well in stopping terror. Nor did it win the hearts and minds of their own citizens. Great Britain drove civil rights activists in Northern Ireland into the IRA with laws such as this.
I am proud to join in very loud applause with my friend Dan!
Up the republic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOFePInusFA
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
I believe Rep. Buys is a sponsor as well.
And there is more to come if you read this article:
“Sparked by the nation’s so-called war on terrorism, the government has been charging full-throttle into another war — a war on liberty. Drawing on its almost limitless technological arsenal, the government surreptitiously tracks and spies on our every movement, places under surveillance our internet and cell phone communications, and screens our bodies and personal effects…..
The destructive march against the constitutional ramparts securing our freedoms continued recently with the National Defense Authorization Act, wherein Congress has granted the president unchecked discretionary powers to detain indefinitely American citizens suspected of aiding acts of terrorism, without a warrant, jury trial or any other constitutional safeguards.
James Madison warned the people to be vigilant and take note of the first experiment with our liberties. But we have already allowed the government far beyond the first encroachment,… The founders would be ashamed of the passivity of millions of “patriotic” Americans….
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/01/the_proposed_enemy_expatriation_act_sending_american_citizens_into_exile.html#ixzz1lGksEa1Y
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Even for Democrats, the Libertarian clock is right twice a day.
I don’t want to live in a country where the government can do that. Overstreet doesn’t seem to want much government at all, but this is a much better place to cut government powers.
In the vein of what Dan McShane said, please watch the movie “Sins of the Father” starring Daniel Day Lewis. Britain became worse than McCarthyist America.
I still don’t want Overstreet dismantling all sorts of other, helpful government programs though, but this issue is more directly about actual freedom than issues like whether or not a factory must meet safety standards, or whether we must pay into a workers comp system.
I have some questions for Mr. Overstreet:
1. If this isn’t just a political stunt, why did he wait until the day before cut-off to introduce the Bill?
2. Why aren’t there more co-sponsor’s?
3. Why aren’t there any Democrats co-sponsoring the Bill?
4. Why doesn’t he also point the finger at the Republican’s who insisted on having the ‘indefinite detention’ language in the 2012 NDAA?
5. Why hasn’t AG Rob McKenna filed a law suit to overturn ‘indefinite detention’?
Yes, this is a good proposal, and it meets Rep Overstreet’s own litmus test- you cannot buy civil liberties from anyone in the Yellow Pages. It is a shame that our most important rights have been shoved aside in the name of this undeclared war on terror. It is also interesting that the same tactics used by many local governments in the sanctuary city movement have been adopted by Rep Overstreet in this proposed bill.
This isn’t a democrat or republican issue; IMHO it is a liberty issue.
It is way past time that we here in Bham or this state or this nation quit looking only thru the eyes allowed to us by a political party.
I spent a few days in Olympia this week speaking with not only republicans but democrats, liberals and conservatives, and it was amazing to me the common ground that there really is that can be found if only we seek it out. Road kill has a new meaning to me for sure!
When something is right no matter from what quarter it is found it is very important we all unite to do right if right is ever to be achieved.
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
BTW a similar bill has passed out of committee already in Virginia, 6-3:
Unlawful detention of United States citizens. Prevents any agency, political subdivision, employee, or member of the military of Virginia from assisting an agency or the armed forces of the United States in the investigation, prosecution, or detainment of a United States citizen in violation of the Constitution of Virginia.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=121&typ=bil&val=HB1160&Submit2=Go
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
There things going on that many of us are not aware of, some of which may be happening right here in Whatcom county.
Take for example Predator Drone’s; did you know that it has been proven that they are being used today against our own citizens on our own soil?
Here’s what one democrat says about them:
“But former Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who sat on the House homeland security intelligence subcommittee at the time and served as its chairwoman from 2007 until early this year, said no one ever discussed using Predators to help local police serve warrants or do other basic work.
Using Predators for routine law enforcement without public debate or clear legal authority is a mistake, Harman said.
“There is no question that this could become something that people will regret,” said Harman…
http://www.lotterypost.com/blogentry/61484
This article also proves how they are being used.
Here’s a good question for everyone, right now in Whatcom County are Drones being used to spy on American citizens?
Is everyone now a criminal until proven innocent?
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Good for Overstreet! Clearly this is something we (the 99%, at least) can agree on.
It’s issues like this that we need to focus on, avoiding the usual energy-sucking nonsense of right vs left ideologies.
Another one is passing a constitutional amendment to prohibit, permanently, the legal fiction that corporations are people. Such an amendment has been introduced in federal Senate and Congress. It’s called the “Saving American Democracy” amendment.
If those resolutions pass in both houses, then it automatically goes to each state’s ballot where voters (We the real People) get to vote for (or against) limiting ‘personhood’ to real people. There are many petitions to sign in support of this amendment, if you agree it’s a good thing. Search for ‘saving american democracy amendment’ to learn more.
Somehow I have a hard time imagining Kelli Linville proposing legislation like this (if she was still in the legislature) – which is why I support Overstreet.
This just in:
“Lawmakers in Washington State joined a growing nationwide rebellion this week against the federal government’s purported new power to indefinitely detain Americans suspected of certain crimes under the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Legislators in Virginia, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and other states — as well as a broad coalition of activists spanning the entire political spectrum — are also working to kill what critics call the “treasonous” usurpation….
“Washingtonians are guaranteed the right of due process in both the U.S. and Washington State Constitutions,” said Rep. Jason Overstreet (above left), the Republican who introduced the bill this week. “The U.S. Congress and President have overstepped their constitutional authority. The Washington State Preservation of Liberty Act seeks to preserve the rights of Washingtonians so brazenly tossed aside by Washington, D.C.”
Other troubling sections of the NDAA targeted by the bill include the purported ability of the President to transfer Americans abroad, presumably for torture or other nefarious purposes….
http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/10740-washington-state-lawmakers-join-war-on-ndaa-indefinite-detention
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Kudos to Jason Overstreet for introducing this legislation and shame on Steve Lydolph for impugning his motives. Overstreet did not point fingers at Democrats; he pointed them at the President and Congress and pointed out that Obama had said he would not use the authority. Those are the right places to point. The clause would not have survived without complicity from Democrats. I think bucking his party is enough. I don’t expect him to call them out.
Some of Steve’s questions are good ones. Why are there no Democrat co-sponsors? Or, more co-sponsors in general? Paladin believes Buys is a co-sponsor. Where do Kristine Lytton and Jeff Morris stand?
Be careful about giving McKenna ideas, Steve. He won points with the voters for his challenge of the individual mandate. If he filed suit to overcome this latest step on the path to a fascist dictatorship, he would be our next governor for sure.