CNN
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Within the four weeks of office, President Donald Trump has quickly and continuously sets a trend of policy prioritization, from government reductions to tax cuts, diversity initiatives, illegal immigration and the opening of war on transgender rights. has been announced.
His allies in the United States are rushing to catch up.
The Florida and Tennessee legislatures have passed a sweeping immigration package to facilitate coordination for state law enforcement and federal immigration officials during their recent special sessions.
Leaders from Ohio and Arkansas are updating their efforts to post job requirements to Medicaid recipients.
And Republicans from at least nine states moved to create a government efficiency task force inspired by an initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk.
All over the country, Republican governors and Congress are using the national spotlight and a friendly regulatory environment to help the Trump administration advance longstanding conservative policy goals. In state speeches, X’s posts and press conferences, they described the new administration as a partner they would like to support. And they want to portray themselves as loyal ally.
It reminds us that elections have results at both the federal and state levels, which Republicans have ruled for many years.
Republican-backed laws, particularly the measures passed in almost 20 states where their party controls both the governor and the legislative chambers, have been the biggest cultural war of the past few years, including Dobbs. The decision was at the heart of the fight that ended pending cases regarding federal abortion protections and gender maintenance care for minors.
Democrats are increasingly selling the need to build strength at the state level as a way to combat Republican interests.
“Red states will further empower the Washington Trump acquisition, pushing laws that will circulate and chaos, and cutting programs from cutting back on basic rights for families to reduce basic rights. It gives even more power to keep their rights down.” “Democrats in the state legislature are the strongest defense against the destruction of Maga Republicans.”
Republican lawmakers and governors from a small number of states, including Idaho, New Hampshire, Georgia, Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma, have established DOGE Task Force or new state legislative committees. Last month, more than 20 Republican governors signed a letter to GOP Congress leaders who support the efforts.
The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group that drafts model laws, created an efficient coalition of government after a national conference in December.
“Essentially, if Doge gets it right at the federal level, there’s a good chance that more will be state and local responsibility,” said Jonathan Williams, president and chief economist at ALEC. . “Our ALEC members really answered the phone and said, “I want to discuss these government efficiency ideas and partner with people in Washington who want to do the same.” ”
Last month, Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Brown called on state employees to work in offices by July, looking for ways to cut a quarter of regulations and reduce costs by 2029 They requested that the agency be directed.
Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed the executive order that launched the Doge task force in her state last week, explained Iowa’s efforts to extend her work several years ago. Iowa’s “alignment” process saved the state $217 million in 18 months, Reynolds said last month in state address status.
“Iowa was dozing before Doge was things,” the governor told a House panel recently.
But Democrats pushed back the portrayal of Reynolds’ state work and signed a 2023 bill that restricted the powers of Iowa auditor Rob Sand, the only statewide elected Democrat in the state. criticized the The law restricts access to auditor records and prohibits sand from suing state agencies for documents. Disputes must be resolved through arbitration.
“We are pleased that the governor is interested in government efficiency, because we have already been working on this for six years,” Sand told CNN. “However, the administration’s lip service on this issue of government accountability is a day late and a dollar shortfall.”
Even at the moment when the administration’s agenda sparked concern over a budget shortage, Republicans are slow to criticize Washington’s approach. After the Management and Budget office temporarily suspends federal aid, Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and other state leaders said, “Without putting the national financial stability at risk, We asked to develop responsible runways to help us unlock unnecessary and terrible policies.
School choice and immigration
Trump has also placed an early emphasis on controversial school selection programs. Last month, the president signed an executive order directing various agencies to submit plans on how to expand school choice opportunities. Conservatives also hope that the administration will roll back Biden-era regulations regarding school selection programs. School choice advocates also want to include a provision that allows tax cuts for donations to scholarship funds where Republicans pay students to attend private schools.
“There have been hostile changes as the Department of Education is not hostile and is trying to enact and implement these policies,” said Frederick Hess, senior fellow and director of education policy studies. Conservative American Institute of Corporate Research.
School Selection Supporters argue that vouchers and other programs allow students to attend better schools and institutions that meet their needs. Opponents argue that the program will refund public schools and that private, religious and charter schools are not subject to the same level of surveillance as public schools.
After a brief power struggle between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Congress, state lawmakers illegally entered Florida last week and become a crime for those who entered the country to increase funding. It approved a series of immigration enforcement bills. Staffing to make it easier for state officials to coordinate with federal immigration officials.
Additionally, one new law will end access to university tuition fees within the state for young adults who lack legal status.
“We are here in Florida, and we have a responsibility to be a strong partner with the Trump administration,” DeSantis said at a press conference Thursday.
In Tennessee, lawmakers this month set up a new division in the Immigration Enforcement Bureau and passed an immigration enforcement bill that coordinates with the federal government on immigration enforcement. It would also be a felony to allow local officials to adopt the so-called sanctuary policy and to eliminate inauguration after being convicted.
Democrats argued that provisions criminalizing “sanctuary city” votes are unconstitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union in Tennessee calls the law “unprecedented” and challenges it in court.
Democrat Aftin Ben advised the Nationalist Party to do more in a state like her. Republicans have a super majority in Congress, allowing them to pass laws that could burn future court battles.
William Lambers, the leader of the Tennessee GOP House majority, introduced a law this month that would allow school districts to opt out of legally educating children who are not in the country. Lawmakers are requesting the law as an opportunity to overturn a 1982 Supreme Court decision that required schools to accept all students regardless of their status.
“We need a more urgency and appetite to invest in a state like Tennessee,” Ben said.
