Republicans have held unified control of
the federal government for over five months now. In that time, the only real
legislative victories have been several resolutions passed under the
Congressional Review Act, revoking various executive-branch regulations imposed
by the Obama administration—important work, to be sure, but not exactly the
stuff of a grand conservative revival. We now have only a year and a half until
the 2018 midterms, after which continued Republican control of Congress is by no
means guaranteed. And, of course, the closer the election, the less likely any
sort of bold reform will be advanced.
But in the states—long ignored by a
press far more interested by the high-level drama in the capital—reforms are
happening at a much faster rate. Texas, for instance, approved a law
banning sanctuary cities in the state. New Hampshire earlier this year legalized “constitutional carry”, making it easier for gun owners to exercise their
constitutional rights.
On the other side of the
liberal-conservative divide, California continues to take steps toward implementing a statewide single-payer healthcare system, and
several blue states, with diminished clout in Washington, are rediscovering the
eternal wonders of federalism.
As always, big things are happening in
the states, away from the glare of the national media spotlight. It would be a
mistake to forget that the “laboratories of democracy” still hold significant
power and influence, even after decades of assaults from Washington.
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