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 Texas is one of only two U.S. states, the other being Hawaii, that
were once internationally recognized sovereign nations, with
diplomatic ties to other countries. Although legal experts said it
would be unconstitutional for Texas to break away via a primary
vote, there is still a spirit of Texas independence among many in
the Lone Star State.
"What we are seeing, over and over, is this complete disconnect
between the people of Texas, what they want, and what is going on in
Washington, D.C.," TNM President Daniel Miller told Reuters.
"The people of Texas don't have anything against the United States,
they are just tired of being governed by bureaucrats we didn't elect
pushing programs we don't want."
He compared Texas to Scotland, which narrowly defeated a proposal to
secede from the United Kingdom last year, and Catalonia, which is
pushing to hold a vote on independence from Spain this year.
"We are living in the era of the right of political
self-determination," Miller said.
But there is one rather big problem, according to T. Gerald Treece,
a professor at South Texas College of Law in Houston and an expert
on Constitutional Law.
"That problem is the Civil War," Treece said. "When Texas and the
other Southern states were re-admitted, each of them made a solemn
promise that they would never leave the Union again."
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Treece said there are some legislative options available to the
Texas Nationalist Movement, short of another civil war.
"You have to have the Texas Legislature initiate a request, and then
you have to have the U.S. Congress approve it, and then it could
happen," he said, adding that with 'two sovereigns involved,' both
would have to give their assent.
Many states have discussed leaving the Union over the last century,
but the talk has been louder in Texas, with some Republicans,
including former Governor Rick Perry, floating the idea of
secession.
Texas would certainly have the clout to become influential on the
world stage as an independent nation, with a $1.4 trillion-a
year-economy, about the same size as South Korea's.
(Editing by Jon Herkovitz and Phil Berlowitz)
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