Sovereignty Bill Introduced In General Assembly

A resolution introduced in the Kentucky General Assembly would declare state sovereignty in line with the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.House Concurrent Resolution 168 co-sponsor Kevin Bratcher of Jefferson County says the measure is simply an affirmation of states' rights."It's just one way to tell the federal government that we are a sovereign state and just re-assert it more than anything," says Bratcher.If passed, the resolution would ask the federal government to restrict its interaction with the commonwealth. For instance, Bratcher says it would send a message that the state does not want restrictions placed on how it can spend federal dollars.University of Kentucky law professor Paul Salamanca says the issues in the resolution are largely thought to have been made irrelevant by the Civil War, and its passage would not change how the federal government operates."I can't imagine this will pass," he says. "But if it did pass, it's just sound and fury."The resolution is currently in committee.