Two governors made news today as they took steps toward more fiscally responsible government and border security. Meanwhile President Barack Obama is making plans to undermine their efforts and impede their progress every chance he gets. While states' rights has always been an important issue in our nation's history, protecting those rights is rapidly becoming a matter of survival.

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In Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R) is standing up to the Obama administration's latest attack on American sovereignty. In a new campaign ad the governor stands beside a warning sign posted 80 miles from the Mexican border by the federal government. The warning: visitors should beware of illegal smugglers. "This is an outrage," Ms. Brewer says and notes that she recently met with President Obama, who "promised that we would get word" on the administration's border security plan.

"Well, we finally got the message - these signs. These signs, calling our desert an active drug and human smuggling area. These signs warning people of danger and telling them to stay away. Washington says our border is as safe as it has ever been. Does this look safe to you?" The ad ends with the message: "Washington is broken, Mr. President. Do your job. Secure our borders. Arizona and the nation are waiting." (source)

How is the president responding to the border crisis? He has his Justice Department preparing to sue Arizona for passing an anti-illegal-immigration law that goes no farther than current federal statutes which Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) refuses to enforce. He is putting up signs to warn Americans to stay away from American land. And he is going to deliver a speech on the need for immigration reform on Thursday. (source) Lawsuits, signs and speeches are not going to solve this problem.

And then there's New Jersey where Governor Chris Christie (R) has accomplished two rare feats for a modern-day politician - he kept a campaign promise and he significantly reduced government spending in his state. The man who promised a more fiscally responsible approach to government signed his first state budget into law this afternoon; a budget that rejected major tax increases and cut 2.2 percent of state spending (8.6 percent including federal funds) from his predecessor's final budget. "This kind of success gives us the momentum to go even further, harder, faster and stronger," said Mr. Christie. (source)

What's President Obama been up to on the economic front? Over the weekend he was preaching even more government spending to the G20 and today he met with senators to urge them to pass an energy bill that would tax carbon dioxide emissions. According to the spin, the carbon tax will reduce global warming. According to reality, it's nothing more than a national energy tax to be paid by virtually every American via increased energy costs. (source)

As President Obama continues to make reckless decisions, sometimes no decisions at all and of course more speeches; many of the nation's governors are standing up and doing what has to be done to protect their constituents from economic hardship and worse. Certainly no one expects this president to help them, but it's long past time for him to just get out of their way.