The Republicans are proposing a constitutional amendment that will never pass, but only makes them look remarkably idiotic. TPM reports:
A group of Republicans in the House and Senate are proposing an amendment to the Constitution that would allow a vote by two-thirds of the states' legislatures to override any federal law they did not agree with.
The proposed constitutional amendment, a tea party favorite, is being touted by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) in the Senate and co-sponsored by Sens. John Barasso (R-WY) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT). In the House, Reps. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Paul Broun (R-GA) are leading the charge.
And...
[I]f two-thirds of the states collectively find a federal law or regulation abhorrent or misguided, they should have the power to repeal said law or regulation. The law would then be sent back to Washington for further consideration, at which time Congress may choose not to act again on the matter, or they may vote to override the states' repeal and pass it in finality.
If this were to ever pass -- and it won't -- imagine the insurmountable gridlock it would create. The law would basically allow the state legislatures to become the fourth branch of government, giving the states the ability to veto legislation. These congressional Republicans, who believe in the original intent of the Constitution, are both attempting to amend the Constitution as well as attempting to disrupt the three branch system -- while also diminishing their own congressional authority to pass laws. Unbelievable.
By the way, here's an example of a very serious Republican state lawmaker:
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The leaders of an Eastern Panhandle Tea Party group are claiming former state lawmaker and current GOP gubernatorial candidate Larry Faircloth made a racist and sexist remark about President Barack Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. [...]
Faircloth referred to Pelosi as a "bimbo."
"Is she not one?" Faircloth said in a Tuesday evening telephone interview. "I mean, a lot of people think she is a bimbo; that's why they replaced Congress with Republicans, and they removed her as speaker. I don't find that as anything different than a political poke at her."
He also referred to Obama as a "Sambo," a term many consider racist.
Good people. Let's give them the ability to veto federal laws!