George Allen on the 10th Amendment & Federalism

“In the last two centuries as a self-governing nation, we have witnessed a steady expansion of national government power at the expense of the powers of the States and localities. Americans have awakened to the loss of liberty that comes from the erosion of local control and the taking of that control, and community-based decision –making, by the federal government.”

– George Allen

George Allen is no newcomer to the debate over how to rein in an over-reaching federal government.

As Governor of Virginia, he

• led a national effort with other governors to re-establish the balance of power between the States and the federal government pursuant to the 10th Amendment, which reserves to people and the States all powers not specifically delegated to the federal government, and

• issued an Executive Order, “Federal Interference Assessment,” whereby each State agency documented the impact of federal interference so that a strategy could be developed to reduce or end the federal intrusion.

• proposed a Repeal Amendment, without a Constitutional Convention, as far back as 1995, whereby a ¾ super-majority of the States could repeal laws enacted by the Congress.

• proposed a States Initiative Amendment, whereby the legislatures of ¾ of the States could propose and ratify an amendment to the Constitution without congressional approval or having to call a Constitutional Convention.

As Representative for the 7th District, George Allen sponsored a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution in 1992 and worked with his conservative colleagues to successfully bring it to a vote on the floor of the House, even though Democrats had a majority at the time. In the Senate, he again introduced and fought for a Balanced Budget Amendment with taxpayer protection and the Line Item-Veto authority to rein in Washington’s overspending and its encroachment on State power.

George Allen strongly supports the efforts of Virginia and other States to push back against the government overreach involved in Obamacare, cap and trade legislation and EPA regulation of CO2, NLRB regulation of movement of business investment and jobs to Right-to-Work States, and FCC regulation of the Internet, all with the extraordinary costs they will inflict on Virginia families.

For more information, click here to read his 1995 speech to the American Legislative Exchange Council entitled “State Sovereignty: The Next American Revolution.”

As our Senator, George Allen pledges to:

• continue his fight to restore the constitutional balance of power between the people in the States and a too-powerful federal government

• introduce a Repeal Amendment to the Constitution

• introduce a Balanced Budget Amendment, with taxpayer protection and a Line-Item Veto, to limit federal overspending

• work to repeal Obamacare and replace it with personal, affordable health care opportunities

• oppose “cap and trade energy tax” schemes and EPA carbon regulations.

George Allen for U.S. Senate