States are often the ones which take the initiative for major reform efforts.
These reform efforts, performed on a small scale, often lead to a nationwide overhaul of outdated systems. In recent years, we have seen examples of this in the welfare and health care systems. Currently, some States are exploring options for bringing the disabled into the workforce and providing long-term care coverage, just to name a few. State and local governments often understand the needs of their constituents and the problems they face better than the Federal Government. They are more familiar with the unique problems that must be addressed in implementing a new system.