White House Plans to Enhance States’ Rights

The White House plans to create an entity within the federal government charged with protecting states’ rights, a balm for state officials who complain that the Bush administration has not met its promise to return power to state governments.

Within a month, aides say, President Bush will issue an executive order designed to shift some power from the federal government to the states. The order, building on a Reagan administration policy, will create a federal watchdog charged with determining whether any federal law or regulation deals with an issue better handled by states.