Center for Practical Federalism

Federal guidance is not supposed to carry the force of law. Increasingly, it does. Jennifer Butler(@jennifer_butler) explains in the Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) how Congress can restore proper limits through the Congressional Review Act. washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4537570…

Empowering states to innovate and grow through federalism could enable better management and outcomes of policy, thus reducing political polarization, says @NicDunnUtah. #utpol

Laying out the bureaucratic involvement in current welfare programs, SPN's @tonywoodlief explains why he believes the federal government is not suited for safety net programs. #utpol @StatePolicy

Is Washington, D.C. failing the safety net? | Tony Woodlief Is the federal government equipped to manage America’s safety net? In this episode of Defending Ideas, host @NicDunnUtah sits down with @tonywoodlief, senior executive vice president for State Policy Network and senior fellow for the Center for Practical Federalism. They examine whether Washington, D.C. is failing low-income families — and whether states are better positioned to deliver effective, accountable support. The conversation focuses on the design and performance of major safety-net programs like SNAP, the tradeoffs between centralized control and state flexibility, and how federalism could lead to better outcomes for the people these programs are meant to serve. Along the way, they discuss incentives, work, accountability, and what meaningful safety-net reform could look like in practice. @StatePolicy

Many, many problems in our culture and our politics would be mediated by sending issues back to the state/local instead of making everything a federal issue...and then making every federal issue a POTUS issue.

Our own Ray Nothstine makes a strong case for federalism in his new op-ed for The Hill: “Federalism Will Let New Yorkers Find Out the Hard Way.” Federalism lets states lead, learn, and innovate—sometimes through tough lessons. Read more: thehill.com/opinion/campai…

The @StatePolicy Center for Practical Federalism's 2025 Federalism Scorecard ranks Tennessee at the top! Thank you, @CSexton25, for your leadership on this issue! Read more: federalismscorecard.com/2025-scorecard

"As seen in Indiana, this disparity incentivizes states to prioritize expansion of enrollees over our most vulnerable citizens." A good reminder that incentives matter. governing.com/magazine/medic…

"The growth of Medicaid money laundering has shifted a significant portion of the financial responsibility for Medicaid away from the states and to the federal government." paragoninstitute.org/medicaid/addre…

"State policymakers must prepare for the inevitable cuts." lawliberty.org/a-wake-up-call…

"...real education reform happens at the state and local level — not through top-down mandates from Washington." thehill.com/opinion/520658…

"States are suing less to protect their interests as states, and instead they are suing to fly the flag for their preferred team and jump to the forefront of the political opposition." civitasinstitute.org/research/state…

Leaders across the country urge White House to make federalism great again americanhabits.org/130-leaders-ur…

"These missives don’t spend taxpayer dollars directly, but they’re masterful at prying them loose from state and local coffers." nypost.com/2025/03/02/opi…

Tennessee and other states defending federalism by taking steps to forbid deployment of their National Guard soldiers unless Congress has voted to declare war. theamericanconservative.com/state-level-ac…

Check out our newest with @EPICforAmerica!! Medicaid improper payments are more than DOUBLE official figures!

"It’s as important a change as any Washington is making, affecting local governments across the country." foxnews.com/opinion/trump-…

Utah is taking steps to bring shadowy federal agency guidance into the light, and its citizens support this reform sutherlandinstitute.org/dc-hidden-dire…

The "FROGs*" are back: Will the White House hop to it on disciplining sub-regulatory guidance documents? (*Final Rules on Guidance) @StatePolicy @jennifer_butler @tonywoodlief @ceidotorg cei.org/blog/the-frogs…

🚨 Don't miss this: SPN's @tonywoodlief reveals a controversial DOJ policy — an overreach that can backfire if Congress acts — implemented just before the transition to the Trump administration. 📺 Watch the eye-opening video—big thanks to @RCPolitics for bringing attention to this important topic! 🎥 youtube.com/watch?v=IBwKH5… #DOJPolicy #TonyWoodlief #RealClearPolitics