Well it sounds like you guys have almost figured it out.

If you are for this piece of grandstanding, you'll never see them say no to Uncle Sam....

And if you are against this, you'll never see anything change.

Each and every thing the feds do that they don't have authority to do (such as force you to lower your DUI b.a.c., or force you to have a no texting law) comes with a bribe.

At the end of the day the state CHOSE to follow the federal request to get their hands on that money.  There never was a requirement that you lower your legal limit at all.  That would be unconstitutional.

That's how it works.  That's how the feds get around the 10th amendment.  And afterall they can print money so what do they care?   The fed doesn't have to give you a dollar in highway funds (even for interstate highways, btw, each state is to maintain those).  I can't think of too many things the state has to give you money for at all.

Piece of election year garbage that serves no purpose.  Unless the state is prepared to raise the hell out of taxes to make up for the loss of federal funds.  Or shrink state government, and get rid of government employees to compensate.  That last sentence was a waste of typing motion.

Mar 4, 2012 -- 11:15PM, Unworthyone wrote:

Mar 4, 2012 -- 10:02PM, Bodean wrote:

Mar 4, 2012 -- 9:14PM, Unworthyone wrote:

This is so phoney.  The vast majority of federal requirements are tied to federal money.  For instance, highway funds are doled out to the states each year, and with those funds come federal standards for building roads.  If the states do not want federal "intrusion" into their business, they can simply forego the money.  How much more simple can it get?

Yep .. and this is the center of the issue.

The Fed TAKES OUR MONEY .. then DICTATES to us, while holding our money hostage.

OK.  How about this?  We'll designate all federal taxes from your residents go for national defense only.  And you can forgo any federal monies that go for other things. 

No federal highway funds for you.  No FDIC protection.  No GI Bill money for your universities or trade schools.  No federally guaranteed mortgages in your state.  And when a neighboring state allows toxins to be dumped in your drinking water, you can work it out without the benefit of the EPA.  Federal grants for medical research? Kiss it goodbye.  Got a federal prison in your state?  Let's shut it down.  All you want to buy with your tax dollars is bullets and bombs.

Your state can, with a stroke of a pen, pass a law that declares it will no longer accept any federal funds not specifically designated by the U.S. Constitution, and it will once again be free from the 'yoke of federal oppression.'

Phoney politicians wringing their hands, lamenting how the feds are casusing the states so much grief.  What crock! 

Very good post!

Unworthone wrote:

OK.  How about this?  We'll designate all federal taxes from your residents go for national defense only.  And you can forgo any federal monies that go for other things. 

No federal highway funds for you.  No FDIC protection.  No GI Bill money for your universities or trade schools.  No federally guaranteed mortgages in your state.  And when a neighboring state allows toxins to be dumped in your drinking water, you can work it out without the benefit of the EPA.  Federal grants for medical research? Kiss it goodbye.  Got a federal prison in your state?  Let's shut it down.  All you want to buy with your tax dollars is bullets and bombs.

Your state can, with a stroke of a pen, pass a law that declares it will no longer accept any federal funds not specifically designated by the U.S. Constitution, and it will once again be free from the 'yoke of federal oppression.'

Phoney politicians wringing their hands, lamenting how the feds are casusing the states so much grief.  What crock! 

Mar 5, 2012 -- 8:09AM, davelaw40 wrote:

except Highway funds are National defense

the issue goes way beyond State money-federal grants to local cities and county agencies in order to further National agendas are the real problem:

got a citation for no seat belt-federal grant-local communities had rejected enforcement until they were bribed with federal funds

neighbor arrested for animal cruelty becuase they left their animals fenced when they went to Disney world?-federal grant

your city building a commuter rail after the voters rejected it-federal grant

The states can reject federal monies and the regulations that go with them if they choose.  When senators and congressmen "bring home the bacon" to their states and districts, they are trading the states' constitutional sovereignty for the money.

States and cities absolutely love federal contract money, but they don't like the federal regulations that determine how the American taxpayers' dollars are spent.  Too bad.

States and cities love it when they are picked for federal grants for medical research, or the arts,  drug rehab programs, or mass transit, but they whine when those dollars have accountability attached.  Too bad.

If the states want to be independent of federal intrusion, then BE independent! Leave the money on the table and walk away!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nullification_Cris...

Same song, second verse, could be better but it's gonna get worse!

May be we'll be smart enough to just let em go this time.

You know, let em be their own country.

how do you xuppose that would work out for them?