Mike Thompson: “this amendment is offered to protect and preserve federalism. If there is one concept in recent years that has gained in…”

“this amendment is offered to protect and preserve federalism. If there is one concept in recent years that has gained in credence, it is the concept of federalism. We have seen a lot of innovation happen in this country that has started at the State and local level. We have paid credence to it with regard to welfare reform and other measures. The Supreme Court, in recent years, has struck down cases based upon the tenth amendment. The tenth amendment has been reinvigorated, and I think we have come together as a nation in many respects in our belief that many of our problems need to be addressed at the State and local level, and that is what our original framers of the Constitution had in mind. Not only is it constitutionally sound but it has worked in practice.”