Governor Jay Nixon (D-MO) (Office of the Missouri Governor).
Related Articles
-
President Appoints Nixon to Council of Governors
- Gregoire leading governors security council
- President Obama creates Governors Council
According to the Governor’s Office, Missouri’s chief executive officer, Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon (D-MO), was tapped last night by President Barack Obama to serve on a new bipartisan Council of Governors.
Last month, President Obama signed an executive order establishing the council. The White House says this will give an opportunity for the nation’s governors to advise the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, and the White House.
The president says the “bipartisan team strengthens the partnership between our state governments and the federal government when it comes to ensuring our national preparedness and homeland defense.”
The council was established on January 11th, when President Obama signed an executive order creating the new group.
Advocating a strengthened relationship between federal, state, and local governments, the White House also stated that the new body would review issues “involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.”
Brigadier General Stephen L. Danner, the Adjutant General of the Missouri National Guard, said “Gov. Nixon [as the state’s Commander-in-Chief] has repeatedly demonstrated his full support of our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, both in our home state and deployed overseas.” Danner, like others, believes this means that Nixon is well suited to the task.
Larry D. Kay, the executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission agrees: “Gov. Nixon's appointment to the Council shows his strong support of the National Guard and Reserves, as well as Missouri's military and veteran population.”
A Violation of States’ Rights?
On January 13th, Lake County Independent Examiner Robert Rule reported that a number of watch groups are concerned that the creation of the Governor’s Council violates the Posse Comitatus Act.
If by watch groups, Rule meant the blogosphere, then yes, there are some concerned about this possible violation of states’ rights. A writer with PrisonPlanet.com, a website created by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, says that the president is engaging in an active attempt to federalize the states. The report at PrisonPlanet.com accuses the president of violating the Posse Comitatus Act by trying to federalize the National Guard.
Apparently, some, including Chuck Baldwin, the former conservative presidential candidate for the Constitution Party, argue that this new council could empower the military to exercise domestic police powers, which is clearly prohibited by Posse Comitatus.
But, no where in the entire executive order, is there any provision that would undermine state sovereignty. In fact, section 5 (b) clearly states that the executive order is to be “implemented consistent with applicable law.” That means that it cannot undermine the provisions of Posse Comitatus, or any federal law for that matter.
All this executive order actually does, is fosters communication between the states and the federal government. If anything, it strengthens states’ rights by increasing their ability to influence federal decisions regarding homeland security and national defense.
Besides, a strong homeland security actually “requires cooperation across the spectrum of federal, state and local" governments. And, according to a CRS report for Congress, it would be dangerous to create extraneous federal agencies or offices, which would make it more difficult for state and local governments to interact with the federal government.
The Governor’s Council does not create any new federal layers. It uses existing federal personnel and requires them to coordinate with ten governors, five republicans and five democrats.
By liaising with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs, the U.S. Northern Command Commander, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Governor’s Council will be able to provide critical advice on matters of national security, in order to better protect the individual states, and the nation as a whole.
Governor Nixon and the MIAC Controversy
Perhaps the real problem bloggers on the political right have with Governor Jay Nixon’s appointment to the Governor’s Council is that he had previously been associated with a controversy that involved political profiling.
In March 2009, a Missouri fusion center, the Missouri Information Analysis Center, released a report on the Modern Militia Movement. In an effort to help local law enforcement, the report indicated that militia members and terrorists could possibly be identified by bumper stickers supporting Congressman Ron Paul in his run for president.
However, Nixon retracted his support, noting that he never saw the content of the report before it was released, and that the MIAC staff was not appointed during his term as governor. The state legislature even passed legislation that would slash funding to the fusion center, should MIAC ever enage in political profiling again. Local lawmaker, Jim Guest (R-King City), a state representative in northwest Missouri, even introduced legislation that would establish legislative oversight for the MIAC.
So, while bloggers on the political right seem to have a legitimate concern that Governor Nixon has been appointed to the president’s new council, their fears simply are not justified.
A Stronger National Security
With the MIAC controversy aside, the White House says the council “will provide an invaluable Senior Administration forum for exchanging views with State and local officials on strengthening our National resilience and the homeland defense and civil support challenges facing our Nation today and in the future.” It’s also important to note that the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Act requires the president to “establish a bipartisan Council of Governors to advise” national security officials on “matters related to the National Guard and civil support missions.”
Jeannie Herrington, a recent diplomacy and counterterrorism graduate from Norwich University and Kansas City resident, says the Governor’s Council will provide clearinghouse "for state and local governments to work together” with the United States in a positive way. Moreover, she argues that having Governor Nixon advise the council “is better than having someone in Washington, D.C., telling Missouri what its strengths and weaknesses are.” After all, she wonders, “who knows the state better than its own governor?”
Herrington believes the only drawback to the proposal is that not all governors may necessarily be experts on counterterrorism and other related issues. If they’re not “versed in these issues” then they “may not be the best people to advise” the council or the nation’s national security complex. Still, indicates Herrington, this problem can be mitigated if they have experts working for them.
Gov. Nixon is honored to serve. He says “close cooperation and communication between the federal government and the states are vital if we are to make the most effective use of state resources on matters of national defense and homeland security."
While some may believe the establishment of this council sacrifices states rights’ in order to promote security, this is one national security move that has no bearing whatsoever on individual liberties or states’ rights (except that it may strengthen the latter). Thus, the creation of the Governor’s Council can be considered good public policy, and good for national defense.
Others being appointed to the new Governor’s Council include: Gov. Janice K. Brewer (R-AZ), Gov. Luis G. Fortuño (R-PR), Gov. Brad Henry (D-OK), Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R-VA), Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD), Gov. Beverly Eaves Perdue (D-NC), and Gov. M. Michael Rounds (R-SD). The council will be co-chaired by Gov. James H. Douglas (R-VT), and Gov. Chris Gregoire (D-WA).
Comments
You say: ("except that it may strengthen the ladder") -- I suppose this would be the ladder that Obama's corpse-men are climbing to find favor within his 57 state administration.
I don't fault the Governor for bowing to Obama. He is just brilliant!
This is the nationalization of our states. WAKE UP!
"Gov. Janice K. Brewer (R-AR)" Actually, Mike Beebe is the gov. of Arkansas.
Agh! That was a silly mistake. The type has been corrected. Thank you for pointing that out.
You Should have a zip code.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!