The fifth of my good government principles is "Account for Regional Differences".
One of the most important duties of Congress is to approve funding for all government activities and initiatives. Federal funding flows to states and local entities for a number of programs including Medicaid, public education, and elections. In conjunction with this funding process, Congress considers the latitude given to state and local governments in how federal funds can be used and the specific goals and/or desired outcomes associated with the allocated funds.
The regional differences principle closely complements the commitment to problem solving principle that I articulated in April. Effective problem solving requires defining the problem that needs to be solved, establishing and gaining consensus on clear and realistic objectives, and empowering those on the front line to execute solutions. Through the accounting for regional differences principle, I am advocating for a legislative approach that focuses heavily on providing states and localities with the funding and resources necessary to achieve clearly defined national objectives.
Here are a couple of examples that illustrate the regional differences principle:
Two years ago, I shared a framework for reducing gun violence. One of the key components of that proposal was establishing a national goal for gun violence reduction combined with funding and freedom for states and localities to employ regional approaches to address the problem.
My work on electoral quality and integrity has reinforced my belief in the importance of regional approaches to national "problems". According to Ballotpedia, "more than 10,000 local entities administer elections in the United States". Each "entity" or "board of elections" shares and supports the national goal of ensuring every eligible voter has a fair opportunity to cast their ballot while ensuring all votes have been accurately counted.
An additional benefit to this approach of legislating is that it facilitates the identification and sharing of best practices. When properly deployed, accompanied by the transparent sharing of data and experience, government officials and the public can learn about, promote, and implement successes from other localities and avoid mistakes that were made elsewhere.
Simply put, the "regional differences" principle advocates for Congress and the federal government to empower state and local governments with the funding, tools and infrastructure to support the achievement of national goals.
This month's social media posts:
Washington Policy Center article summarizing national survey on voter attitudes about local versus federal government
Jonah Goldberg article - Systemic Problems Need Local Solutions
Investopedia article on Block Grants
Information about the Center for Effective Lawmaking
Have a great month and a great Fourth of July holiday.
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