We're strengthening federalism by cutting back on the activities of the Federal Government itself. Our budget proposal is a dramatic shift in the growth of government. Without a structural shift of this kind, there's little hope for a long-term resistance to the burgeoning of Federal powers. As State legislators, I know that you're tired of the Federal Government telling you what to do, when to do and how to do it, and with no thought of the whys or wherefores of it at all. Well, a major aspect of our federalism plan is the eventual consolidation of categorical grants into block grants.
Today there are too many programs with too many strings offering too little a return.
In 1960 there were approximately 132 intergovernmental grants. Take just one area. In 1978, there were 35 programs for pollution alone. Now, the real costs of all this are just beginning to sink in. The city of San Diego built a 16-mile trolley without Federal assistance, which is probably why it was accomplished within the budget and on time.