The Western Governors’ Association, Conference of Western Attorneys General, Council of State Governments West, Western Interstate Region of the National Association of Counties, and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region collaborated on the formulation of the principles.

“The inauguration of a new Administration and the start of the 115th Congress presents an unusual opportunity to realign the state-federal relationship,” said James D. Ogsbury, Executive Director of the Western Governors’ Association. “Western Governors are eager to work in true partnership with the federal government and call upon the Administration to engage them in the development and execution of policy that impacts state authority.”

The letter explains that the organizations seek to operate as “authentic collaborators” in the development and execution of policy. Highlights from the principles include:

• In the absence of Constitutional delegation of authority to the federal government, state authority should be presumed sovereign;
• Federal executive departments and agencies should not construe, in regulations and otherwise, a federal statute to preempt state or local authority unless the statute contains an express preemption provision;
• Each federal executive department and/or agency should be required to have a consistent and accountable process to provide states and localities with early and meaningful input in the development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications;
• The head of each federal executive department and agency should be required to designate an official responsible for ensuring that the federalism consultation process is executed appropriately and completely.

"I am pleased to work with the great organizations represented in this joint effort," said Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin, Chair of the Conference of Western Attorneys General. "I pledge that I will use my time as Chair to provide the new administration with input from the top legal and law enforcement officers of the Western states on the important issues common to the West."

“These federalism principles reflect our collective, multibranch western state interests to foster and promote a collaborative relationship with the incoming administration," said Idaho State Representative Jeff Thompson, Council of State Governments West Chair.

"By working with county governments as intergovernmental partners, federal officials can gain important local insights to strengthen public services for our shared constituencies,” said Commissioner Doug Breidenthal, President of the Western Interstate Region of the National Association of Counties. “Counties possess a wealth of practical, on-the-ground knowledge that should be actively sought out by federal agencies to inform policy.”

"I believe our states are laboratories of innovation and these principles encourage the vibrant and responsive partnership between local, state, and federal government that our citizens deserve from their public institutions," said Matt Morrison, Executive Director of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region.
  
Ultimately, the organizations encourage action on the principles by Congress and president-elect Trump so that “the Administration can create a legacy of renewed federalism, resulting in a nation that is stronger, more resilient and more united."

Read, download the letters, and 'Principles to Clarify and Strengthen the State-Federal Relationship'

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