American Habits

Tools for citizen watchdogs: Find out how lawmakers voted and what local officials said at the town hall. Search the contracts the state manages. Look up school employee compensation and union contracts. detroitnews.com/story/opinion/…

Great tribute to the unique role states play in our federal system from @StatePolicy’s @RayNothstine in @WSJopinion. “Our federalist system still gives us the best path to exercise and practice self-government. Our challenge is to embrace the Founders’ wisdom.”

Americans love their states. It reflects something deeper: the abiding truth that our identity and self-government began not in Washington or even Philadelphia, but in the states and communities we call home, writes @RayNothstine on.wsj.com/4ksyfwm

“Thirteen clocks were made to strike together.” An outstanding reflection on Independence Day by @RayNothstine >> Americans Love Their Country—and Their States wsj.com/opinion/americ… via @WSJopinion

Thank you @WSJopinion for publishing my Independence Day piece. "When the Declaration was signed in 1776, it marked 13 distinct rebellions across separate colonies." #July4th wsj.com/opinion/americ…

“Independence Day is a welcome reminder not to fret obsessively over who is running Washington. Rather, we should work to remember our inheritance and govern our local communities with renewed conviction and accountability.” @RayNothstine wsj.com/opinion/americ…

The SALT deduction makes it easier for fiscally irresponsible states to dodge accountability with voters. | @DominicJPino trib.al/jQnM1bt

SPN’s Jennifer Butler (@jennifer_butler) writes in @NRO that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a powerful opportunity to renew federalism and return power to the states. Read her piece: nationalreview.com/2025/07/the-on…

An excellent defense of federalism. Definitely worth a listen.

“The ‘Virginia model’ for regulatory modernization has become the gold standard across the U.S., with other states and federal agencies looking to replicate our reforms,” said Reeve Bull, director of the Office of Regulatory Management. #AI #federalism americanhabits.org/virginia-leadi…

Full press conference: Religious Liberty in the States 2025 youtube.com/watch?v=ETsKjd… @1stLiberty @TheCRCD @GovRonDeSantis

"For North Carolina, the share of General Fund revenues from federal funds has more than doubled over the past four decades." The more $ we depend on DC for, the more we must dance to their tune. #ncpol

“The genius of American freedom is the division of powers.” A classic essay on federalism from M. Stanton Evans: modernagejournal.com/the-states-and…

"As Captain Levi Parker, a veteran of Lexington and Concord, put it decades later: 'Young man, what we meant in going after those Redcoats was this, we had always been free, and we meant to stay free. They didn’t mean for us to be.'" americanhabits.org/how-our-rebell…

Some have said, down through history If you last it's a mystery. But I guess they don't know what they're talking about. From the mountains down to the sea You've become such a habit with me America, America. —Waylon Jennings, “America” m.youtube.com/watch?v=g13Cfw…

A few observations from the recent Pew / States Newsroom forum, “Federalism Tested: How States Are Navigating an Area of Uncertainty.” americanhabits.org/a-couple-of-ob…

“[The Opportunity Scholarship] means nearly 17,000 middle-class kids, like me, were given a chance to pursue a better education.” Read my inaugural piece in @American_Habits americanhabits.org/north-carolina…

Washington spends, we pay the price @RayNothstine americanhabits.org/washington-spe…

"Missouri lawmakers readily ceded this power in exchange for additional federal assistance." americanhabits.org/missouris-fisc…

“Strong local leadership is the first line of defense against federal intervention and overreach…Federalism isn’t some kind of force field that dissolves responsibilities and accountability when it comes to the rule of law or public order…It’s quite clear so much of this…