In Wisconsin, the party of Abraham Lincoln will be deciding this weekend whether it favors not only the right to secession but also the right to nullify federal laws.

Delegates at the state Republican convention are set to vote Saturday on a proposed resolution that directs lawmakers to push through legislation nullifying Obamacare, Common Core educational standards and "drone usage in the state of Wisconsin."

"Be it further resolved," the proposal concludes, "that we strongly insist our state representatives work to uphold Wisconsin's 10th Amendment rights, and our right to, under extreme circumstances, secede, passing legislation affirming this to the U.S. Federal Government."

Republican officials had confirmed that the so-called "state sovereignty" resolution made it onto the agenda for the convention, which is being held in Milwaukee beginning Friday. But the wording of the actual resolution had not been made public.

No Quarter was able to obtain a copy of the proposal, which offers a full-throated endorsement of the state's right to reject any federal law that it considers excessive.

Under the measure, lawmakers would be urged to push a bill "which would have the effect of nullifying specific federal laws and regulations which are outside the scope of the powers delegated by the People to the federal government in the Constitution."

Republican delegates will vote on a total of 23 resolutions.

Two legislative leaders dismissed the idea Wednesday that they should devote themselves to passing bills affirming secession and nullifying objectionable federal laws.

"I don't see that happening," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, a Juneau Republican.

Added Rep. John Nygren, a Marinette Republican who is co-chairman of the Joint Finance Committee: "The way we deal with federal legislation is we win elections at the federal level."

Conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes, a leading critic of the secession proposal, said the actual language is worse than advertised.

"This is crackpotism on steroids," said Sykes, whose show airs on WTMJ-AM (620), which is owned by Journal Communications, which also owns the Journal Sentinel.

"Hopefully," he continued, "the convention vote will make it clear that this is just a small fringe element behind this."

The proposal — which has garnered national attention — was originally approved in March by the GOP's 6th Congressional District caucus and forwarded to the state party's resolution committee. The panel approved a slightly modified version of the suggested resolution and forwarded it to the full convention.

Rohn Bishop, treasurer of the Fond du Lac County Republican Party, said he was booed at the March caucus meeting when he brought up Lincoln's name while arguing against the secession and nullification provisions. He said he also noted that the meeting took place two days after the 160th anniversary of the party's founding in Ripon.

"I was completely blown away that at a Republican Party event, the presidency of Abraham Lincoln would be controversial," Bishop said Wednesday.

Not everyone objects to the resolution.

Michael Murphy, a member of the state GOP's executive committee, has said on his blog that "secession is as American as apple pie."

But Murphy is concerned that Democrats could use the resolution to try to tarnish Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who is running for re-election this fall. Walker has criticized the proposal.

On Wednesday, Murphy suggested that someone may try to strip the secession reference from the proposal on the convention floor while retaining the nullification language. He said he believes a pro-nullification resolution should be adopted.

"I would hope it could pass," he said. "I'm a proponent of nullification."

Actually, it would be impossible for state lawmakers to do some of the things expected of them in the resolution.

For instance, the proposal calls for members of the Assembly and Senate to nullify the Common Core educational standards for Wisconsin schools.

But those standards — which many conservatives see as a President Barack Obama-led overhaul of public schools — aren't federal law. Wisconsin voluntarily went along with the measures to create more uniform coursework and testing in U.S. schools.

Also, how does a state legislative body go about nullifying the use of drones within certain boundaries?

The proposed resolution would also have lawmakers nullify executive orders and a 2011 law giving the military the authority to detain terrorism suspects, including U.S. citizens, for as long as it wants without trial.

Many Republicans, of course, object to many of these specific federal provisions mentioned in the proposal.

"Why can't we just pass a resolution that says we don't like Obamacare?" Bishop asked.

Not to mention the fact that many Republicans believe supporters of the resolution are trying to resurrect long-resolved tactics to deal with contemporary issues.

"We fought a war over this, didn't we?" Sykes asked. "It didn't work out well for the supporters of nullification and secession."

Murphy disagrees, saying the Civil War didn't put an end to either.

"All it did was settle a war," Murphy said.

One that he and his allies are eager to fight again this weekend.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

Here is a look at the language of a proposed resolution to be voted on during this weekend's state Republican Party convention.

Ensuring State Sovereignty

WHEREAS, during the Constitutional Convention the states created the Federal Government and not the other way around; and

WHEREAS, the states retain their powers through the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and limited the powers of the Federal Government; and

WHEREAS, it is the duty of the States to defend the rights of its citizens when the Federal government attempts to trample those rights.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Republican Party of Wisconsin, in convention assembled, supports legislation that claims sovereignty for the state of Wisconsin under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this legislature, which shall have as its charge to recommend and propose legislation which would have the effect of nullifying specific federal laws and regulations which are outside the scope of the powers delegated by the People to the federal government in the Constitution, such as:

■ to nullify the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act within Wisconsin; and

■ to nullify Common Core Curriculum in Wisconsin schools; and

■ to nullify enactment of the NDAA indefinite detention provisions; and

■ to nullify any Executive order or federal regulation that circumvents the legislative powers vested in Congress; and

■ to nullify drone usage in the state of Wisconsin; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we request that our elected officials support legislation which would serve as notice and demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers, and that all compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or that requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we strongly insist our state representatives work to uphold Wisconsin's 10th Amendment rights, and our right to, under extreme circumstances, secede, passing legislation affirming this to the US Federal Government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we strongly insist our state representatives and attorney general work diligently to find ways to not accept federal funds or started federal programs, that come with mandates and strings attached.