April 24, 2008
State Legislators Find Another Ally on Capitol Hill
Tennessee Senator says if Washington has a good idea, then Washington should pay for it.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As a former governor, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander has seen federalism issues from both the state and federal perspectives.
Senator Alexander, chair of the Republican Senate Conference, welcomed a room full of state legislators to Washington, D.C., at the opening reception of the National Conference of State Legislatures Spring Forum. Senator Alexander identified with legislators, saying nothing made him more angry as a state representative than when a congressman passed a bill, took credit for it, and then turned around and gave the states no money to implement it. He identified REAL ID, Internet taxation, the Federal Consent Decrees Fairness Act, and flexibility in the No Child Left Behind Act as particularly concerning for the states.
"Our country will work better if the people who come to Washington remember that the wisdom mostly doesn't reside here, " Alexander said. "That they remember federalism is a good idea, that unfunded mandates are a bad thing and that if Washington thinks it is important enough to impose a mandate on a state or local government, Washington ought to pay the bill."
He encouraged state legislators to open up the lines of communication with their congressional representatives and be honest about the difficulties and frustrations states are having with trying to implement Congress' unfunded mandates.
To listen to Senator Lamar Alexander's entire speech please click here.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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