Arizona Bill Would Let State Ignore Federal Laws

Arizona state lawmakers are considering a bill that one local columnist says amounts to a de facto attempt at secession. The bill would allow the state to ignore any federal law lawmakers deem unconstitutional, reports KPHO-TV. It would create a committee—comprised of 12 state House and Senate members—to vet federal laws and recommend to the full legislature any they think should go.

It "essentially would have Arizona secede from the union without having to do so officially," writes EJ Montini in the Arizona Republic. And while bills like these get floated across the country all the time only to be summarily dismissed, this one just happens to be sponsored by state Senate President Russell Pearce, notes Montini. He's the same legislator who led the push for Arizona's controversial immigration law, adds NPR.
(More Arizona stories.)