More than 40 legislative leaders from over 30 states gathered this week for the inaugural Gathering of State Legislative Leaders in Columbus, Ohio. The group calls for a renewed focus on states’ rights. (Photo courtesy of the National Conference of State Legislatures)
A new group of bipartisan state legislative leaders issued a declaration at its first meeting calling for a renewed focus on states’ rights and an end to federal interference in state laws.
The Assembly of State Legislative Leaders, which includes more than 40 lawmakers from 30 states, unanimously approved a 449-word declaration on the importance of states’ ability to legislate independently.
A document released Tuesday at the bipartisan group’s inaugural meeting in Columbus, Ohio, noted that the U.S. Constitution did not create the states, “but rather the states created the Constitution by ratifying a framework in which we both govern collectively and independently.”
Federalism is the basis constitutional concept showing the division of power between the states and the federal government.
The lawmakers’ declaration states that federal agency policies, congressional legislation, and executive orders must respect the constitutional separation of powers and allow states adopt a number of different legal acts.
The document states that sticking to federalism is key to “restoring the balance between the federal government and state legislatures, ensure cooperation that respects the role of the state and limits unnecessary federal interference with state sovereignty.”
It opposes federal preemption of state laws except when “a direct conflict with the Constitution arises or the problem cannot be effectively resolved at the state level.”
The newly formed group highlights growing tensions between the federal government and states.
Last week, for example, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at repealing state laws regulating artificial intelligence. State lawmakers from both parties said they will continue to file legislation on the issue push back on the president’s efforts.
The National Conference of State Legislatures, which represents state legislatures and legislative staff from across the country, helped organize the new group. NCSL wrote to federal leaders in September citing this information two-way care about recent federal actions that the group said were aimed at undermining the authority of state governments. She opposed the Trump administration’s review of state regulations deemed unduly burdensome on businesses.
This week in Ohio, state lawmakers discussed a variety of federalism issues, including Medicaid, education and land management, according to NCSL. Ohio Republican House Speaker Matt Huffman was elected speaker of the new assembly, and Hawaii State Senate President Ron Kouchi was elected recording secretary.
“We have achieved the first in what I hope will be a long list of future declarations by state legislative leaders,” Huffman said in a statement. “This meeting was the first of its kind, and I hope we continue these conversations across the country.”
Kouchi described the meeting as a “good start.”
“I am pleased that top state legislative leaders from both parties were able to come together and have an honest, practical conversation about how we can better preserve and strengthen the states’ role in our constitutional framework,” he said in a statement.
Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at: khardy@stateline.org.
This story was originally produced by State linewhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
