Opposition to McDonnell’s Role with the Council of Governors grows.
on February 16th, 2010 at 12:15 am
From the VirginiaTea Party Patriots site:
President Obama issued an executive order on January 11, 2009 to establish a Council of Governors. The councils purpose is to “to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards.” Here is a great explanation and “dots” connected on why citizens should be concerned.
Just as concerning, is that our Virginia Governor, Bob McDonnell, has agreed to serve on this committee. Chip Tarbutton, President of the Roanoke Tea Party has send Gov. McDonnell the following letter and we urge all concerned citizens to do the same.
Governor McDonnell,
You have agreed to serve on President Obama’s Council of Governors. This Executive Order from the President is troubling and seems to be an attempt by the Federal government to gain even more control over states, in the guise of emergency management.
I voted for you sir, and I believe that you understand that the 10th Amendment is being trampled over by the Federal Government on a daily basis.
I, and the rest of the Roanoke Tea Party, need to understand why you are participating in this Council, given the grave Constitutional issues raised by this Executive Order. Unless, you can provide us with some justification for your participation, we would respectfully ask you to pull out of the Council of Governors as soon as possible.
We eagerly await your reply.
Chip Tarbutton
President
Roanoke Tea Party
You can contact Gov. McDonnell’s office at 804-786-2211 or you can send him an email
Here is a letter from the 2nd Tuesday Constitution Group which discusses some of the state and Federal Constitutional issues with McDonnell’s participation.
Honorable Robert F. McDonnell
Article 1, Section 2 of the Virginia Constitution states that all power is vested in and consequently derived from, the people, that magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.
Our founding fathers would never have created a government whose purpose was to usurp the power of the sovereign people of the states. They never gave the Congress, or the Executive branch, of this federal United States direct rule over any citizen of any state, as our war of independence makes evident, and stated plainly in our 10th Amendment. “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Article 5, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia states “The chief executive power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor. He shall hold office for a term commencing upon his inauguration on the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January, next succeeding his election, and ending in the fourth year thereafter immediately upon the inauguration of his successor. He shall be ineligible to the same office for the next term succeeding that for which he was elected, AND TO ANY OTHER OFFICE DURING HIS TERM OF SERVICE.”
Governor, we have read the Executive Order written on January 11, 2010 by the President pertaining to the Council of Governors. This list of nominees for the Council includes you.
Under Article 1, Section 12 of the Virginia Constitution we are, as freeborn sovereign individuals, and citizens of this Commonwealth assembled together as the 2nd Tuesday Constitution Group. We now call upon you to adamantly refuse, and distance yourself and the Commonwealth of Virginia, from this executive ordered Council of Governors.
Under Article 7 of the Virginia Constitution, the sworn oath is to the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of Virginia. Within these constitutions we can find no authorization of any executive orders, or any authorization for any council of governors.
Perhaps we have somehow failed to see how your participation in this could be constitutional. We anticipate that you will respond with that explanation.
Sir, our loyal hand of cooperation to the restoration of Virginia’s greatness is extended to you always.
With Highest Regards,
2nd Tuesday Constitution Group
Excellent letter. Thanks for taking a stand.
Glad to see that you Tea Partiers understand that this a bad thing…. especially in light of the fact that starting in October of 08, for the first time in American history, we now have an active duty army unit deployed inside the United States, in case the President needs it “for emergencies.”
“Governor” McDonnell is in flagrant violation of the letter and spirit of the Constitution of the Virginia Commonwealth as well as the U.S. Constitution. He is either naive or power-drunk to agree to become part of the Council of Governors. He should absolutely be resisting such a Council because of the 10th amendment and the Posse Comitatus Act. Regardless of the “governor’s” family values, conservative fiscal policy, successful balancing of the budget, etc., the mad elephant in the room is the willing fusion of federal jurisdiction with state jurisdiction. The separation of powers, in this case, verticall,y that is implicit and explicit in the US Constitution and the Virginia Constitution stands against the “Governor” and so should all Virginia citizens until he joins us in adhering to the Constitution. Wake up “Governor”!
Can’t let anything get between him and his presidential bid.