Arizona Voters to Decide if State Should Ignore Some Federal Laws

The 2014 election is more than 14 months away, and the field — from governor to Legislature — is far from set. But one thing is certain: Voters will get to decide on another state-sovereignty issue.

 
The yet-unnamed measure differs from the one voters defeated just last year. This measure, which the Legislature referred to the ballot, would let voters decide if they want to ignore some federal laws.
 
“This has to do with any federal action the people or the Legislature deems to be unconstitutional,” said state Sen. Chester Crandell, R-Heber,the measure’s primary author.
 
If voters approve the measure, it would allow lawmakers, or the voters directly, to decide on a case-by-case basis if the state should withhold staffing or other resources needed to carry out a federal policy. Topics could range from federal efforts to close roads in the national forests to air-pollution issues to highway construction.
 
“It’s not defying the federal government,” Crandell said. “It’s saying, ‘We’re not going to help you.’ ”