State's Rights And Federal Money

[Baron2024]

State Legislatures should pass laws demanding the return of their citizen's federal income tax dollars. If Trump is going to cut federal agencies and federal programs, it is incumbent on the states to demand that revenue back and to establish state level programs that substitute for the federal programs that Trump and his MAGA Gang in Congress intend to cut. Blue State Governors, State Attorneys General, Democratic State Legislatures, and Democrats in Congress should all coordinate with each other to try and establish this kind of policy across the nation. If Trump intends to destroy the federal government and withhold federal money from Blue States, then these States should act to protect themselves and their citizens. They should have their federal tax dollars returned to them and those States in turn could use those monies to protect those citizens that will suffer due to the loss of federal programs.

[Baron2024]

1. For Example

For example, it looks like Trump is trying to kill the NIH and CDC. New York State has a Department of Health that operates some of the same functions. If Trump cuts the NIH and CDC, New York could pass a bill in the Legislature that demands their State's citizens get their Federal tax revenues back, preferably in the form of a block grant to the State.

Then that money could be used to expand and strengthen the State Department of Health and at least New Yorkers would have some public health protections. Other States could follow suit. This plan could be coordinated with Democrats in Congress. Of course the Republicans control Congress (at least until 2026) but a bill introduced in Congress by Dems to get State's federal money back would be good for optics and provide strong talking points for a media campaign for State's Rights and getting our money out of Trump's control.

[The Madcap]

2. I like this idea

If the Feds aren't going to use it for anything helpful to the people, then the states should have the tax money. Along with this, it might be better if we could combine some of the states so that they act more like provinces and have a bit more mass to them so they can actually have enough money to handle disasters, health, etc. With fifty states, only a few have enough resources to do much of anything, California being the best example of that. Maybe we could combine them so we get it down to 13 provinces as a symbolic nod to the original 13 colonies.

[Baron2024]

3. You Have The Right Idea I Think

I have proposed what I called a Blue State Alliance. After the Federal Government, the biggest Government in the Country is the California State Government. A close second is the New York State Government. Both are controlled by Democratic Governors and both their Legislatures are completely controlled by Democrats. This is important. An Alliance between the Blue States could be formidable and could compensate us for the cuts that Trump is making to the Federal Government.

The following States have Democratic Governors- Arizona, California. Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin. Add to that all of the major cities that have Blue Mayors and you are dealing with a lot of potential power.

A Blue State Alliance could almost be an inter-state treaty organization where these states pledge to assist one another to provide for the rights, security, health, prosperity, and well-being of their citizens. We might even be able to convene some sort of Convention to hash out the Alliance, sort of like the Constitutional Convention of 1787. We might be able to develop a new form of Democratic Government.