Why Conservatives Love Decentralization

For the reasons cited here — 1)state taxes tend to be very regressive, and 2)balanced budget requirements tend to mean that programs that benefit the poor are especially likely to end up on the chopping block. When “federalism” doesn’t advance conservative policy interests, of course, Republicans generally stop caring about it. If “federalism” advances conservative policy interests, conversely, no argument can be too specious or trivial.