1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Support Oppositional Federalism Legislation to Counter Federal Overreach The Trump administration recently served grand jury subpoenas to six Minnesota offices, including those of Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated he's focused on stopping Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey "by whatever means necessary." This unprecedented federal overreach demands a legislative response that protects state sovereignty and constitutional governance. I urge you to champion oppositional federalism legislation that actively counters federal tyranny through three specific measures. First, enact state anti-corruption laws that make corruption a criminal offense at the state level with clear definitions. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes, making state prosecutions immune to federal interference. New York's Martin Act provides a century-old precedent for this approach, successfully prosecuting financial crimes and exposing Bernie Madoff while federal regulators failed to act. Second, join an interstate compact creating an election protection trigger law. If the federal government refuses to count legitimately certified electoral votes, counts illegitimate ones, or deploys federal agents to seize voting equipment, member states would order employers to divert federal tax withholdings to a constitutional compliance escrow account. The funds would be held, not seized, and released once federal compliance is restored. One state acting alone would be crushed, but ten states holding a third of federal revenue creates meaningful negotiating leverage. This mechanism uses the same trigger law structure Republicans proposed under Obama and that states used for Roe v. Wade legislation. Third, implement a corporate political spending means test that conditions state tax benefits and subsidies on corporations not making political contributions or PAC donations. This mirrors existing means testing for food stamps and disability benefits. Taxpayers shouldn't subsidize corporate lobbying, and this is legally defensible as a voluntary condition on voluntary benefits. These measures protect constitutional governance without requiring federal cooperation. I request your commitment to introducing or co-sponsoring this legislation and building the interstate coalition necessary for the election protection compact to succeed.