Douglas Alexander: “I am pleased to say that the Senator from Arizona, Mr. Kyl, the Senator from Texas, Mr. Cornyn, and the Senator from…”

“I am pleased to say that the Senator from Arizona, Mr. Kyl, the Senator from Texas, Mr. Cornyn, and the Senator from Nebraska, Mr. Nelson, have joined Senator Pryor and me in introducing this bill. Congressman Jim Cooper from Tennessee will be introducing similar legislation in the House of Representatives. This is bipartisan legislation that will help slow down the practice of democracy by decree--Federal courts running State and local governments. Consent decrees--judicial orders based on the consent of parties engaged in a civil court action--can be an effective judicial tool when drawn narrowly and with respect for State and local policy choices. Congress passes laws and sets conditions on grants that must be followed by State and local governments, and when they are not followed it is important for citizens to be able to turn to the courts to see that the rule of law is upheld. That is at the heart of the idea of federalism. Unfortunately, in many cases, rather than preserve the separation of powers between the Federal Government and State governments, consent decrees have done just the opposite.”