The one-page handwritten letter is written on Executive Office letterhead in cursive and is dated January 25, 2012.

In the letter, the governor mentions job creation, the state’s budget, and invites the President to tour Arizona-Mexico border to discuss border security. Brewer said she wrote the letter to tell him about “Arizona’s comeback,” “our great economy,” “how great Arizona is,”” and asked for a chance to sit down and talk to him.

It’s my guess that the President did not appreciate the letter. He considered it an affront to his authority. The president is not a king. His powers are constitutionally limited. The Tenth Amendment makes it clear that the states have a right to question the unconstitutional power grab of the Executive Branch.

Moreover, the letter shows that when states are released from the fetters of federal control, they are in a better position to make the necessary adjustments to fuel the engine of economic recovery. Here’s what she wrote (a PDF copy of the original letter can be found here and here):

Dear Mr. President,

Welcome to Arizona!

You’ve arrived in a state at the forefront of America’s recovery — and her future. We were at the brink. We were at the bottom of the list in job creation. Today, we have a balanced budget and we’re in the top 10 for job creation.

I’m proud of that hard-won recovery — the result of many tough decisions, courage and perseverance.

My hope is that while you are here you will have a chance to see our tremendous results first hand.

We both love this great country, but we fundamentally disagree on how to best make America grow and prosper once again. I’d love an opportunity to share with you how we’ve been able to turn Arizona around with hard choices that turned out to be the right ones.

And, of course, my offer to visit the border — and buy lunch — still stands.”

With respect,

Jan