Republicans Vote Against Resolution On Secession, Health Care Act

Republican delegates attending the party’s state convention in Milwaukee on Saturday voted down a resolution that would have pushed legislation affirming the state’s right to secede and nullifying several federal laws.

The nonbinding resolution was rejected fairly quickly in a voice vote.

Another resolution focusing strictly on trying to declare the Affordable Care Act as null and void in Wisconsin was subject to greater debate. Eventually, resolution opponents like Rep. Dean Knudson, R-Hudson, won the day. Knudson says Gov. Scott Walker has already tried to limit the impact of the health care law and that the state Republican platform calls for repealing it.

“But this resolution called for the Legislature and the governor to create criminal and civil penalties for any federal official who tried to implement a federal law within Wisconsin,” said Knudson. “And I think that nullification would be a mistake.”

Knudson says courts have already ruled that states can’t nullify federal laws.

One of the backers of nullification, convention delegate Dan Jones of Sheboygan County, says that at some point Wisconsin residents have to realize they have to fight back against the federal government. He says that Saturday’s debate was a start, and that he has not lost his distaste for the health care law.

“I woke up one morning two months ago, and I was a criminal because I don’t have health insurance,” said Jones. “And I don’t think any American should wake up and become a criminal when they don’t do anything.”

Republican leaders want the party’s focus to be on re-electing Walker and keeping majorities in the state Legislature.