Harkening to a 10th Amendment theme that’s been a hallmark in Austin for three legislative sessions, a bill by Longview Rep. David Simpson lays a framework for Texas to ignore federal laws and regulations it deems contrary to the state constitution.

“It’s unfortunate (that) what’s happened over time is the federal government has intruded more and more into affairs of the states,” Simpson, R-Longview, said Thursday from Austin. “This (bill) allows discussion on how we identify federal government overreach.”

Basing his bill, filed Friday, on Article 1, Section 29 of the Texas Constitution, the measure would prompt the state to withhold resources — manpower, equipment, funding — from carrying out federal laws or mandates once the Legislature decides they are contrary to the Texas Constitution of 1876.

That would take a two-thirds majority under his proposal.

To read more of this article, visit the Longview News-Journal at http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/simpson-bill-would-let-state-ignore-feds/article_cfda513e-b36c-53c9-9f3c-568c38020fa6.html.