Monday, January 27, 2014

Declaration of War?

I should like to draw your attention to a certain bill--SB 727--RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, which is currently floating in the HI State Legislature; which was introduced during the 2013 session by Senator Donovan Dela Cruz; and which was carried over to the 2014 session.  
By its own account, the nature of this bill is as follows:


"Expressly prohibits the enactment of county ordinances relating to the protection of property and the order and security of inhabitants, if the ordinances conflict with the intent of state or federal statutes, rules, or regulations."

This bill is alive and well. My guess is that there will not be a lot of pressure to advance this bill during this election year because of its proven unpopularity. Though we will see it resurface in 2015, when Mr. Abercrombie (or his chosen replacement) is (re)elected.

The first thing to note is  that this motion is in complete violation of the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which reads:

"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."

...and therefore Mr. Dela Cruz, and all State Legislators who support this bill, are in full violation of their oaths of office.

Second, while the motive for this bill is not defined anywhere in it, the suspected motive is to protect GMO Agribusiness from County ordinances which restrict their activity in any way. These county ordinances, are designed to protect public health. They are driven by the concerns of island people about real threats posed by giant Agribusiness and GMOs.  

THIRD: This bill, if passed, opens the door for state and federal governments to invade counties, and inflict any manner of harm on the people that they wish, without interference from the County governments

This outrageous bill, if it passes into law,  would be just short of a DECLARATION OF WAR,  on the People of Hawaii.

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