STATES REJECT FEDERAL STRINGS

Take a look at this one, folks. It seems that Obama worship is slowing in its tracks less than a full month after the man from Illinois has taken office. Where's that mandate now, Mr. President? Is this sudden fallout with the Washington (by way of Chicago) crowd the mere tip of the iceberg, and given how the November election played out, one might be forgiven for wondering what in the world did these states have up their sleeves, and when did they put it there?

Some have suggested that the Obama team has ratcheted up its Saul Alinsky method with such torque in such a short time that backlash and outright rebellion leading to secession of some regions of America could occur within four to five years. That seems unlikely, but so did this so soon after the Anointed One took the oath of office (twice, by the way).

WORRIED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is increasing its dominance over their affairs, several states are pursuing legislative action to assert their sovereignty under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution in hopes of warding off demands from Washington on how to spend money or enact policy. The growing concerns even have a handful of governors questioning whether to accept federal stimulus money that comes with strings attached.

The sentiments to declare themselves legally independent from Washington have swept across as many as a dozen states, renewing a debate over so-called unfunded mandates that last raged in the 1990s. The states question whether the U.S. government can force states to take actions without paying for them or impose conditions on states if they accept certain federal funding.

"We are telling the federal government that we are a sovereign state and want to be treated as such. We are not a branch of the federal government," said Arizona state Rep. Judy Burges, who is leading an effort in her state to pass a resolution called "Sovereignty: the 10th Amendment." Ms. Burges was inspired to action by a pair of Bush administration initiatives: The No Child Left Behind education law of 2002 and the Real ID Act, a 2005 law that established national standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards.

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Addendum: More on Saul Alinsky...