Who Killed Federalism?

[Draggingtree]

The Federalist:

Who Killed Federalism?

The contemporary relationship between states and the federal government is in an unhealthy state.

By David Corbin and Matt Parks

May 26, 2014

Nothing testifies to the death of federalism better than the rash of stories last week about federal requirements for public school lunches. Consider just a few:

• The representatives of the once-free people of Connecticut voted unanimously in both the state House and Senate to ban chocolate milk, lest its troublesomely high levels of sodium endanger a portion of their federal school lunch subsidies.
• In Washington, lawmakers debated how to respond to complaints that schools are having to divert money from teaching budgets “to cover the costs of mounds of wasted fruits and vegetables.” Experts suggest that enlisting “technical assistance” in organizing lunch lines and presenting food might help local schools cut their losses–especially since the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives extra subsidies to those who serve these not-so-enticing meals.
• The USDA closed out the week by offering a “whole grain-rich pasta products” waiver to those schools that have found quality pasta difficult to come by–as long as said hardship is properly certified by their respective state board of education.

We’ll pause a moment to let your nausea pass