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Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Smilin' Norm: Pay no attention to the preemption behind the mirror
What's the best way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions? Easy -- use federal preemption to prevent states like California from reducing carbon dioxide emissions. See, it works, because if California can't, then the federal government will have to. Sometime. In the future. When it's not too late. Because global warming is great for business. Manufacturers of hip waders figure to do particularly well. Who's genius idea is this? Smilin' Norm Coleman:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed that California would take the lead in the fight against global-warming when he signed a bill last month aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
But Sen. Norm Coleman is suggesting that Congress strip California and all other states, along with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, of much of their authority to control carbon dioxide emissions.
..."My intention in this draft proposal is to find the quickest path to carbon-dioxide reduction -- that means finding a proposal that doesn't cripple the economy, that is nationally based and that will not be trapped in the courts," Coleman said in a statement Friday. His office said the senator was unavailable for an interview.
6 Comments:
I always thought that one of the things Republicans believed was that federalism really meant something -- the concept of 50 laboratories to try out things, etc. This current crew, however, would federalize everything. Real Republicans still believe that federalism is a good thing. If California or Illinois or Ohio or whatever state comes up with a good idea, then others can try it, too. And, if it's a really good idea, then the federal government can try is also. Conversely, if someone comes up with a really bad idea, you don't spread it to 49 other jurisdictions or nationalize it.
By 
, at
12:22 PM
Federalism is a great theory for at least a couple reasons. One is just as you say -- 50 laboratories to discover what works and what doesn't work. Another is our regional differences -- what's important or valued in Minnesota might be seen differently in New York, Texas, or California.
Federalism only works with proper checks, in my opinion. Without national labor standards, we might quickly see a race to the bottom for which state allows employers the most power. Externalities are another concern. Why would Michigan care about pollution from Detroit or Flint if the winds blow it into Ohio or upstate New York?
I think the danger, regardless of political persuasion, is thinking that MY good ideas should be implemented nationally, because they are such good ideas. But YOUR ideas have to be implemented locally (if at all) because they aren't as good as mine.
I think the federal government should strive to set minimum standards for all states to meet, but allow flexibility on (a) how to meet the standards and (b) to exceed the standards as desired.
I agree with you completly. There must be minimum standards, and some things in fact are national issues. My point is that there is a power grab going on in the US right now, and it's being run by the people one would reasonably believe to be the ones least likely to grab.
By , at
1:03 PM
I don't want to speak for all liberals historically, but one thing I think Republicans had right was federalism. I think liberals and Democrats have tended to look to federal solutions, for some very good reasons. Coming out of the 1960s, federal voting legislation addressed problems that the states created. Then, with Democrats in control of Congress for 50 years, there was a natural tendency to fix problems at that level.
Yes, I can spell "completely." Fat fingers miss the keys, and I don't prufread very well.
Long story short, Arnold ought to be able to try. Federal preemption in this case is overkill in order to protect Big Industry and Herr Bush.
By , at
9:16 AM
TRR, consider upgrading to the latest Firefox version. It automatically spell checks all text boxes. Makes fixing little errors in comments much easier!
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