Ted Cruz tells ALEC to “Stand your ground”

salon.com ^ | December 05, 2013 | Elias Isquith

[Tailgunner Joe]

Speaking to the attendees of the group’s policy summit in DC, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz rallied the ALEC faithful and urged them not to let the growing chorus of criticism get them down.

“I first came to ALEC over a decade ago,” Cruz said. “When I was serving in the Bush administration, I’d been privileged to work with ALEC in the federal government. I’ve been privileged to work with ALEC when I was back in Texas with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, leading the 10th Amendment Center, and I’m proud to stand with ALEC today.”

Referencing Sen. Dick Durbin’s earlier inquiry into ALEC’s role in pushing Stand Your Ground laws in states throughout the country, Cruz joked, “I was just at the Capitol and I was asked to pass along an inquiry from Sen. Durbin: ‘Are you now or have you ever been a member of ALEC?’”

But more than cracking jokes, Cruz’s appearance was dedicated to lifting ALEC’s spirits. ”I’ll tell you this,” he said at one pint. “My advice to ALEC is very, very simple: Stand your ground.”

One piece of legislation being considered is what ALEC is calling a “soft repeal” of the 17th Amendment, which established the direct election of U.S. senators. Before the amendment was adopted in 1913, state legislatures chose senators.

Although he didn’t comment specifically on the ALEC proposal, Cruz had unkind words for the 17th Amendment in his speech on Thursday.

“Prior to the 17th Amendment, the state legislatures’ ability and authority to select senators was a powerful check on the federal government coming and intruding on the prerogatives of the state,” he said. “Because if you have the ability to hire and fire me, I’m a lot less likely to break into your house and steal your television. So there’s no doubt that was a major step toward the explosion of federal power and the undermining of the authority of the states at the local level.”

He also said he would back a balanced budget amendment and an amendment that would give state legislatures more power in changing the U.S. Constitution.

[alloysteel]

The American Legislative Exchange Council, a non-partisan organization that promotes effective government at the state legislatures across the US, is working to re-introduce the meaning of the 10th Amendment of the Bill of Rights to all levels of government. This is why Ted Cruz was hitting on the “nullification” of the 17th Amendment, which effectively took to power to nominate and select Senators who would represent the interest of the state away from the state legislature and put it to a popular vote.

There is much to be done, and it may take decades or centuries to undo all the mischief already imposed upon the territory once known as “the United States of America”.

[Hostage]

I am not sure what is meant by a ‘soft repeal’ but one such repeal or change to the 17th Amendment would involve allowing state legislatures to recall US Senators and preserve the voters right to vote.

The reasoning is that once a positive right is given, and the right to vote is a positive right, it is not advisable to take a position to repeal such a right. But an amendment to allow state legislatures to recall US Senators would allow the same power to states that the pre-17th Amendment Constitution allowed.

Of course the voters could vote the same US Senators back in but this would compel state legislatures to be more careful in sensing the state voters will before moving to remove a US Senator.

I can only see good in allowing for recall of US Senators.

[SoConPubbie]

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