HOLLAND -- U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, wants to amend the Constitution to protect "the liberties of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children."

His proposal has 137 co-sponsors in the House. Hoekstra spoke at a press conference Friday with state Rep. Dave Agema, state Sen. Bill Hardiman and president of parentalrights.org and Patrick Henry College Chancellor Michael Farris.

Hoekstra wants the amendment to keep "parental rights" within families without government intervention.

The proposed amendment also states that international law cannot supersede the amendment, something the U.S. Supreme Court has used to justify some of its cases, most recently Graham v. Florida, which the justices ruled that minors who commit non-homicide crimes must have some opportunity to be released.

E-mail the author of this story: localnews@grpress.com