New Hampshire lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that would require a declaration of war before the state's National Guard could be deployed in a foreign country.

A number of progressive Democrats in support of the bill now appear to be signing onto the longstanding goal of libertarians in state government: provoking a major confrontation with the United States government.

“We should stand united, pass this legislation and say to the federal government, ‘Come get us,’” said state Rep. Jonah Wheeler, D-Peterborough.