Rep. Spiller files challenge to ‘Texit’ bill

Rep. Spiller files challenge to ‘Texit’ bill

State Rep. Bryan Slaton made national news by filing legislation to place a referendum on the ballot during the next general election to allow Texans to vote on whether to investigate the possibility of Texas independence and to present potential plans for a “Texit” to the Legislature.

“The Texas Constitution is clear that all political power resides in the people. After decades of continuous abuse of our rights and liberties by the federal government, it is time to let the people of Texas make their voices heard,” Rep. Slaton said. A similar bill was filed last session by Rep. Kyle Biedermann but it failed in committee.

Although some Texas claim that a provision in the state’s constitution would allow it to secede from the United States, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that the Civil War settled that question and the answer is ‘no.’

Rep. David Spiller (R-Olney) says he does not support Rep. Slaton’s independence. “The TEXIT bill, HB 3596, is not going to pass,” he said. “I’ve read the bill. Frankly, it’s poorly drafted, is misleading, does not potentially accomplish what it purports to do, and its premise is illegal and insufficient under both the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution. It would be a colossal waste of time, energy, resources and money.”

Rep. Spiller wants voters to focus on his bill, House Bill 384 or the Texas Sovereignty Act. “My bill creates a Joint Legislative Committee on Constitutional Enforcement comprised of 6 members of the Texas House of Representatives and 6 members of the Texas Senate,” he said. “The committee would review any federal action (including a federal law, a federal agency rule or a Presidential executive order) to determine whether the action is an unconstitutional federal action. If the committee’s recommendations are approved by the House, the Senate, and signed by the Governor, that unconstitutional federal action has no legal effect in Texas. Further, that unconstitutional federal action cannot be enforced, and anyone that attempts to enforce it in Texas commits a criminal offense.”