A state Senate committee has approved a pair of bills telling the federal government to butt out of Arizona business.
The measures declare Arizona’s right to ignore orders of the federal government.
Rep. Bob Thorpe said as a sovereign state, Arizona shouldn’t be required to obey orders from the Department of Justice or the executive office.
"We’re telling the president of the United States that if he provides an executive order, it doesn’t apply to the state of Arizona. It doesn’t apply to our political subdivisions,” Thorpe said.
Another bill approved by the Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility Committee says no state resources could go into the Affordable Care Act, even though the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare would be left intact.
The measure would prevent creation of a state healthcare exchange, something that could be important if the Supreme Court rules against Arizona’s use of the federal Health Insurance Marketplace.