It Takes Two to Tango

Gov. Michael S. Dukakis called for partnership between state governments and federal agencies in order to find solutions to national problems in a debate yesterday on the future of the American federal system.

Citing statistics that indicate 31 of the 50 states have been in a recession during the so-called "Reagan recovery," Dukakis said that attempts to decrease federal involvement in state affairs and increase local policy-making would allow the government to avoid creating a "national response to what are national problems."

Dukakis, who has governed the Commonwealth during a period of tremendous economic growth, made his remarks at a symposium entitled "The Future of Our Federal System," held at the Law School. The symposium was chaired by Byrne Professor of Law Richard T. Stewart and attended by Sen. William Roth (R-Del.) and William T. Coleman, a Washington lawyer who served as Secretary of Transportation during President Ford's Administration.

Ford and Coleman both argued that the federal government has become overburdened with responsibilty and that the states should try to develop local solutions to their problems.

"Who do we hold accountable?" Roth asked, adding that if local governments had more power to tax and spend, the voter would have more control and legislators would be more responsible to their constituents' needs. Roth has sponsored a bill that would create a commission to investigate what ways government could be restructured better to serve the public.

Coleman also felt that the national government has also become too powerful. Coleman said he never understood why states threw him a big party after they received grants from his department. "I took their money, skimmed 25 percent off the top and then sent it back," Coleman said.

But Dukakis said such grants are needed to provide poorer states the chance to rebound. He said this is what Massachusetts used to spur an economic boom during his first administration from 1974 to 1978.

The governor, who is running for reelection this year, dismissed the need for more commissions. "The answer is not another need to sort out government," Dukakis said, adding that "I am a problem solver."