Constitutional Federalism
President Clinton is the first president in American history to deny that the Constitution limits the powers of the federal government. The Clinton White House has sought to federalize health care, crime fighting, environmental protection, and education. It has also tried to thwart any effort to downsize federal agencies and programs. Although the Washington press corps has dutifully scrutinized the fledgling efforts of the 104th Congress to breathe life into the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution, which affirms that the federal government has only limited powers, the president's efforts to expand federal power have received scant attention from a Tenth Amendment perspective. By his official conduct as president, Clinton has made it clear that he believes there is no area of human activity that is beyond the redistributive or regulatory reach of the federal government and that the state governments essentially operate at the sufferance of the national government. Such a view contravenes the text, history, and structure of our Constitution.
2007-02-04
04:38:32
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Anonymous
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Politics & Government
➔ Politics