State vs. Federal: Haley & DeSantis Square Off on Decentralizing Power

In Tuesday night's GOP presidential debate, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis took the stage in Des Moines, Iowa for the last time before the Iowa caucus, which takes place next week and will set the tone for the rest of the Republican presidential primary.

With plenty of pokes and disputes in the two-hour debate came a focus on key issues that resonate with conservative values – fiscal responsibility and a commitment to reducing the role of the federal government. 

Haley advocated for a return to budgetary discipline. She proposed eliminating earmarks and vetoing any spending bill that doesn't bring the nation back to pre-COVID spending levels. DeSantis, a Convention of States endorser, echoed similar sentiments on fiscal responsibility. He proudly shared his state's achievement in paying down 25% of its debt during his tenure, highlighting a commitment to sound financial management.

“We have the national debt clock going up to $34 trillion. If you did a debt clock for the State of Florida it would be counting down because we've paid down 25% of our state debt just since I've been governor,” touted DeSantis.  

Both Haley and DeSantis championed state sovereignty as a critical part of our nation’s success. DeSantis vowed to reduce the size and scope of government, pointing to Florida's lowest percentage of state government workers per capita and the lowest cost of state government employees in the country. Haley called to decentralize federal programs, especially in education, which would empower states to make decisions that align with their individual needs.

“I want to take as many federal programs from D.C. as we can and send them down to the state level,” she said. “Start putting education back in the states and away from D.C. That's when we'll start to see that we're going back to the basics, we're doing what parents want.”

Both candidates underscored the importance of returning power to the states, promoting fiscal conservatism, and championing local decision-making. These themes remain central in the fight for liberty and self-governance. 

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