Michigan Governor Signs Bill Banning Material Support or Resources for Warrantless Federal Spying

March 20, 2018 in News by RBN Staff

 

Source: Tenth Amendment Center

Contact: Michael Maharrey
Phone: 213.935.0553
media@tenthamendmentcenter.com

For Immediate Release: March 20, 2018

LANSING, Mich. — Yesterday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill into law that bans all “material support or resources” for warrantless federal surveillance programs.

The new law effectively prohibits state cooperation with agencies like the NSA when they engage in warrantless spying.

Rep. Martin Howrylak (R-Troy) sponsored HB4430. The bill passed both houses of the Michigan legislature by overwhelming margins.

“This reform safeguards the fundamental rights of all Michigan residents, who are guaranteed protection of their property and privacy rights by the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,“ Howrylak said. “Michigan will not assist the federal government with any data collection unless it is consistent with the Constitution.”

The legislation evolved out of the OffNow strategy to shut off water to the NSA facility in Bluffdale, Utah. Tenth Amendment Center national communications director and OffNow campaign lead Michael Maharrey said that by denying support and resources, states can significantly hinder unconstitutional domestic surveillance.

“The federal government depends on its state and local partners to help with pretty much everything it does. This includes domestic surveillance. Partnerships don’t work very well when one of the partners just quits,” Maharrey said.

Michigan is the second state to prohibit support for warrantless federal surveillance. In 2014, California took the first step when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill banning the state from participating in, or providing material support or resources to any federal agency engaged in the “illegal and unconstitutional collection of electronic data or metadata.”

Maharrey said passage of HB4430 goes further and gives the movement to stop unconstitutional federal surveillance more momentum. A similar bill passed the Missouri House earlier this month. Maharrey called state action crucial given that Congress recently reauthorized FISA Sec. 702 even though the House Intelligence Committee knew about abuses under that particular surveillance program.

“In 1975, Sen. Frank Church warned us about the U.S. surveillance state, saying that it had the potential for ‘total tyranny.’ That was more than four decades ago and Congress still hasn’t done a darn thing. In fact, it’s given agencies like the NSA even more power,” he said. “Congress is never going fix this. If these federal agencies are going to continue to violate the Fourth Amendment, it’s up to the states to step up to the plate. Fortunately, they have a lot of power here. If enough states follow the lead of California and Michigan, we can box them in and shut them down.”

For more information on HB4430, click HERE.

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The Tenth Amendment Center, based in Los Angeles, seeks to limit federal power through action in the states and education.