A large percentage of the federal budget is spent on grants to state and local governments to help pay for a vast array of projects and programs. The trouble with that is two-fold: It’s in conflict with the Constitution’s concept of federalism and it leads to a lot of waste. Can we do anything?
In my latest Forbes piece, I write about the new book by James L. Buckley in which he explains why Congress should stop all — absolutely all, no exceptions — such spending.
That won’t be easy. Most members of Congress relish the vote-buying they can accomplish when they “bring home the bacon.” But with the budget spilling over in red ink, and with growing distrust of the federal government, this is a propitious time to open discussion about this. Perhaps reporters could develop the habit of asking candidates in 2016 if they’d support a bill to keep Congress from unconstitutional, wasteful spending.
