WSJ: Big Government's Changing Face

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Big Government's Changing Face

Republicans' Moves to Expand Federal Role Cheer More Than
Just Social Conservatives

By JOHN D. MCKINNON
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
April 4, 2005; Page A4

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Republicans are moving to expand Washington's role on other fronts. In banking, insurance and telecommunications, the Bush administration and Congress are pushing federal regulation instead of state oversight -- to the applause of business constituents who now consider that more efficient and less onerous than in the days of Democratic rule.

For Democrats in Washington, such moves represent hypocrisy from a party that once touted the principles of federalism in the Constitution's 10th amendment, which reserves for the states and the people those powers not explicitly granted to the federal government.

Whatever the result, the trend is a consequence of the consolidation of Republican control of the capital. In the decades after President Franklin D. Roosevelt launched the New Deal and an era of Democratic dominance, Republicans were steady critics of their adversaries' use of federal power on economic and social issues alike. Yet their tune has changed now that Republicans hold the White House and both chambers of Congress -- and aim to keep them.

On regulation, some Republicans are working to please many business constituents who are important ideological and financial allies. The inaugural edition of the National Conference of State Legislatures' "Pre-emption Monitor" counts the ways, citing business-regulation issues such as congressional overhaul of class actions and pending legislation on medical malpractice and insurance regulation.

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Write to John D. McKinnon at [e-mail]


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http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111257912638796805,00.html (paid subscription)