WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Republican lawmakers from more than 20 states across the country are willing to take federal funding , but only on their terms . Some state lawmakers are pushing for sovereignty from the federal government . From Montana to South Carolina , lawmakers in mostly red states have pushed ahead with measures calling for state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment , saying the federal government has overstepped its bounds with the stimulus package . The states are calling for the right to ignore laws they deem unconstitutional . Oklahoma state Sen. Randy Brogdon , a Republican and the first to introduce this type of legislation last year , originally pursued it because he thought then-President Bush and Congress exceeded their authority with the Real ID Act , which required states to include certain information on driver 's licenses . He called the stimulus package `` immoral and unconscionable '' and said it was `` the final straw that broke the financial back of America . '' Brogdon 's bill passed the state Senate on Wednesday and the state House approved a similar measure . The office of lead House sponsor Republican Rep. Charles Key said it is confident a joint resolution will get through . The legislation would be binding . So , if the governor signs it , it theoreticallly would allow Oklahoma to ignore laws that are not `` enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution , '' as stated in the Tenth Amendment . `` I 'm sick and tired of Congress overreaching and underachieving , '' Brogdon said . He added , `` If we have an opportunity to salvage freedom and protect sovereignty , it has to be done at the state level . '' Similar legislation is moving along in South Carolina . The bill already passed in the state House and a state Senate panel approved it on Tuesday . Republican state Rep. Lee Bright said he chose to sponsor the South Carolina measure because he thinks the stimulus package grants the federal government more power than the Constitution allows . `` The federal government is living beyond the scope that the Constitution grants it and states should put it on notice , '' Bright said . `` I have n't been pleased for some time with what the federal government gets involved in , but it came to a head with the stimulus bill . '' The Republican lead sponsor of the bill in Virginia , state Rep. Christopher Peace , said his state has used only a small portion of the money allocated in the stimulus package . He said local officials are the best managers of Virginia 's budget and the federal government should n't interfere with how the state chooses to spend its money . `` I 'm not saying we do n't benefit from some of the money , but it 's important to question what are the roles and boundaries , and ask if Congress is exceeding them , '' Peace said . `` Our representatives in the federal government represent the same people we do and they need to work to keep the government small and limited and efficient . '' All the bills invoke the Tenth Amendment , which states that `` the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution , nor prohibited by it to the states , are reserved to the states respectively , or to the people . '' Most are symbolic measures and none have passed yet , but local officials are hoping to send a message to Washington to back off . Many states are criticizing the stimulus package , while others are trying to assert authority over other issues , like abortion in Missouri and exempting firearms from federal regulations in Montana . Many of the bills include a provision that once the bill is passed , a copy will be sent to President Obama and Congress . `` It 's time to send a message to Congress that we 're sovereign , '' said state Rep. Judy Burges , an Arizona Republican . `` We have many states doing this and if you have enough sending the same message , they 're going to have to step back and take a look at what they 're doing . ''
GOP state lawmakers pressing the issue of state sovereignty . They say the federal government has overstepped its bounds . Oklahoma state senator : Stimulus package `` immoral and unconscionable '' Lawmakers are introducing bills in the states that invoke the Tenth Amendment .