Commentary: Why isnât balanced federalism more of a campaign issue?
By LaVarr Webb
I believe politicians are missing out on a great campaign issue by not touting balanced federalism as a way to solve some of Americaâs biggest challenges.
If handled properly, I think federalism could be a powerful issue that resonates well with voters in races ranging from legislative contests, to governorships, to Congress, to the presidency.
For example, if a congressional candidate is asked why Congress is so dysfunctional and so divided, he or she could properly explain that Congress is trying to do far more than it should be doing. Congress spends an inordinate amount of time in hearings and debates on issues it will never reach consensus on because the country is too diverse to impose the same regulations and laws everywhere.
Congress would be dramatically more effective if it stuck to truly national issues and didnât try to impose its will on states and local governments on matters best left to them.
A good case in point is the proposed $15 per hour national wage requirement. Congress has wasted a remarkable amount of time debating this issue, without achieving agreement. The problem is that representatives from wealthy urban areas will never find common ground with those representing rural areas where wages are not as high and a $15-per-hour requirement would hurt businesses.
Thatâs an issue that should obviously be decided by state and local governments, based on local conditions.
And there are many more. Much gridlock on issues related to transportation, human services, education, and the environment could be avoided if Congress took a pass in key areas and allowed state and local decision-making. Congress would have a lot less to fight about.
Even the national budget would be in much better shape if Congress left more tax dollars at the state level and let states decide how to spend it. Thousands of state and local elected leaders are much closer to citizens, much more responsive to their wants and needs, than 535 insulated House and Senate members in faraway Washington, D.C.
There is simply not a need for a federal solution to every problem facing every American, yet Congress acts as though there is. The reality is that the federal government has exerted control over so many aspects of our daily lives that it canât possibly meet all the expectations. The national government was never intended to take care of every need of every citizen from cradle to grave. Our federal leaders have set themselves up for failure. Read More
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