Republican State governments increasingly consolidating power in the State government, reversing the previous trend towards devolution and home rule

[Safiel]

There has been a general movement in many States over the years to devolve power from the State government and grant counties and municipalities home rule.

Particularly in Florida and Texas, that trend has reversed.

Republicans control the State government in those States.

But they do not control many of the counties and municipalities in those States and have little to no chance of gaining control of those units.

So instead, they have moved to circumvent those units, but decreasing home rule and moving power and responsibility back to the State government level.

One of the reasons they want to kill the property tax is that it is a source of revenue that the State cannot control. If they kill the property tax and replace with a tax system controlled by the State, they can essentially hold counties and municipalities hostage by denying revenue unless the local unit kowtows to the State.

They would like to turn their States into clones of Alabama, where power flows almost exclusively from Montgomery and where local governments have almost no discretion.

We should be moving forward with home rule and devolution, not reversing it for political expedience.

 

[ataraxia]

The point may be to drown out the political voice of the blue cities/counties in their state, which are small islands of their most diverse, educated, and economically productive areas.

Basically, the modern day version of taxation without representation.

 

[Slartibartfast]

They want to control people due to various cultural grievances.

 

[Blue Dog]

This is not surprising. Ballot initiatives that passed are being challenged by Republican majorities.

It seems usurping power in government is fine as long one favors the ideology….

 

[Safiel]

My biggest issue is the hypocrisy of it all. They cry State's Rights incessantly and talk of local rule.

Until it becomes inconvenient for them.

I don't particularly like or agree with some of the policies these counties or municipalities have adopted.

But their local governments were chosen by the voters who seem to be happy with those policies.

The State government should butt the **** out.

Republicans control approximately 60 of Florida's 67 counties, including large population counties such as Brevard.

They are free to set local policies in those counties.

Democrats should be equally free to set local policies in the approximately 7 counties they control.

The State should stay within its sphere of responsibility and counties and municipalities should have maximum home rule.

 

[bomberfox]

This is not surprising. Ballot initiatives that passed are being challenged by Republican majorities.

It seems usurping power in government is fine as long one favors the ideology….

Its really a pain in the ass.

 

[Safiel]

This is not surprising. Ballot initiatives that passed are being challenged by Republican majorities.

It seems usurping power in government is fine as long one favors the ideology….

Florida Supreme Court Justices raise prospect of tossing Fair Districts Amendment

Chief Justice Carlos Muñiz questioned if nondiminishment requirements make it impossible to craft a constitutional map.

floridapolitics.com

Florida voters overwhelmingly passed a Fair Districts amendment to the State Constitution in 2010, prohibiting the legislature from drawing districts for partisan gain.

The legislature has simply ignored the amendments and now the Supreme Court, packed with DeSantis appointees, is liable to toss the amendments from the constitution entirely.