Several items in the news lately demonstrate that our nation’s current strain of federalism is straining.
State-legal marijuana vendors in Colorado and Washington cannot use banks because of federal rules. The federal and some state governments are vexed over handling tax and other legal matters for same-sex couples married in states that now or once allowed the practice. And the costs of, and access to, various federal-driven healthcare options, including Medicaid and ObamaCare, depend heavily on the state in which you live. These are but a few examples of the increasingly messy lawmaking and policy implementation process within our federal system. …
Now, perhaps more than at any time in the post World-War II era, we need insights on federalism. And I am wondering whether the research community — both public and private polling firms — should provide leadership by revealing the public’s position on key issues through research. CONT.
David Hill (Hill Research Consultants), The Hill