by Karl Kurtz
Normally, it's state legislators who complain about inaction by Congress on critical issues or, worse, action that hurts the states. Complaints are particularly vociferous when Congress passes unfunded mandates or preempts state authority or, in the case of the Real ID act, a combination of the two. The revolt by the states against the Real ID act is the hottest story in federalism these days. Yesterday's Grasscatcher, NCSL's news clipping service, contains no less than four articles or editorials supporting states that are refusing to go along with this mandate, including this AP story about U.S. Sen. Susan Collins' plan to introduce a bill delaying the effect of Real ID.
But today's Washington Post brings a story about Virginia's congressional delegation complaining about inaction by the Virginia General Assembly. After Virginia's congressional delegation met with Gov. Timothy Kaine to collaborate on increasing federal transportation funding, one member of the congressional delegation said,
"We wish that, perhaps, this cooperative attitude could be extended a few hundred yards further to the statehouse," said Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.). "We do hope that the legislature can get it together to do its share."
Not that state legislators would ever complain about what local governments do or the locals about actions by either the feds or the states.
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