When the Framers created our federalist system, they imagined the federal and state governments acting as checks and balances on one another.
If a state government violated the U.S. Constitution, the federal government had the power to step in and bring them back into alignment with the rest of the states.
The converse is also true (though big-government elitists don't want you to remember). If the federal government imposes mandates or orders that violate our liberties, the states are supposed to be a bulwark against that overreach. They're supposed to stand up to protect the residents of their states when they see the federal government exceeding its constitutional bounds.
Some states take their duty more seriously than others, but no one can doubt Florida Governor Ron Desantis' commitment to standing up for Floridians. Time and again, he's pushed back against unconstitutional mandates from the federal government, and his latest announcement does just that.
At a rally this week, the governor and Convention of States Endorser vowed to call a special legislative session to ban President Joe Biden's vaccine mandates.
“We will be calling the Legislature back for a Special Session. We want to make sure that individuals in the state of Florida have their rights protected,” DeSantis said.
Details of the special session have yet to be released, but the Florida governor is exactly right: he and other governors have a duty to push back against federal overreach, and he's using ever weapon in his arsenal to do just that.
Unfortunately, we can't expect our states to fight and win every battle. We need a more robust, long-term solution to federal overreach, and the Founders empowered the states to give us one.
Article V allows the states to call a Convention of States for the purpose of proposing constitutional amendments. These amendments can limit federal power to only those topics expressly mentioned in the Constitution (vaccines aren't in there, in case you're wondering).
Amendments can also be written to force Congress to be fiscally responsible (say goodbye to "Build Back Better"), and limit the terms of office of federal officials (Biden, Pelosi, Schumer, and Mcconnell would all be gone by now).
Gov. Desantis knows we need a long-term solution, which is why he endorsed the Convention of States Project during his run for the governor's mansion.
“I've spent years fighting the DC Swamp, and as a candidate for Governor of Florida, I know the states need to use Article V to take the power away from DC," he said. "The permanent bureaucracy will never voluntarily give up an ounce of its power. Florida was the second of twelve states that have already passed the Resolution, and I encourage all other state legislatures to support the Convention of States Project and pass the resolution today."
Florida has already passed the Convention of States Resolution. Has your state? To join the fight to limit federal power, sign the petition below!
