Summit: Strengthen State’s Rights Panel Of Governors, Legislators Seeks To Reclaim State Authority

Seeking to reclaim state authority from Washington, D.C., a panel of governors and legislators suggested Tuesday that the states might be empowered to force Congress to reconsider laws and regulations that interfere with their rightful role.

It was one of four options outlined at a federalism summit, a movement one sponsoring governor predicted will snowball. “Our work is just beginning,” Gov. Mike Leavitt of Utah said at the windup of the three-day conference.

The executive committees of the National Governors Association, the Council of State Governments, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Legislative Exchange Council and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation approved the outline as a way to enhance state authority and standing in dealing with the federal government.

They recommended a follow-up summit to act on specific steps after those organizations and others have weighed the alternatives.

Their suggested remedies:

A system in which the states could require reconsideration of federal laws or regulations when two-thirds of the state legislatures vote to demand it.

Empowering the states to propose amendments to the Constitution, subject to ratification by Congress, where amendments now are initiated.

A law “to enhance the political safeguards of federalism” and give states a greater voice in congressional action.

Action against federal mandates, regulations and strings attached to spending grants, by law or by constitutional amendment.

The next step, Leavitt said, will be to seek consensus on specific proposals and, at the same time, seek broader public support for a rebalancing of state and federal power.