That Pesky 17th Amendment

Some state budget stabilization funds wound up on the stimulus cutting room floor yesterday. Matthew Yglesias wonders why seemingly strong political constituencies like state-level politicians and state employees were left out in the cold.

Tyler Cowen has the answer. In short, voters will blame governors, not U.S. senators, for state fiscal problems.

Governors and state legislators might have a bit more clout at the federal level if it weren't for that darn 17th Amendment. It's been suggested that the 17th Amendment contributed to the expansion of the federal government; which makes it all the more painfully ironic that states get a bit of short shrift in this biggest expansion of them all.