If you’re a frequent reader of [our] emails, you’ll know that one of the themes we return to often at the Platte Institute is federalism. Not as an abstract constitutional concept, but as a practical guardrail that allows states like Nebraska to govern themselves, respond to citizens, and pursue policies that reflect local needs rather than onesize- fits-all mandates from Washington.
That idea was front and center earlier this week when I sat down with Tony Woodlief, Executive Senior Vice President at the State Policy Network and the head of its Center for Practical Federalism, to record a new episode of the Nebraskanomics podcast.
Tony put it plainly: without federalism, much of the work state-based think tanks invest years into can be undone with the stroke of a pen by a federal agency or administration.
