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Debate was centered around the Federal Government and its authority to enact a national MLDA, because Federal enactment could be seen as an infringement on states' rights.
Federal Senators Defending States' Rights
Federal Senators Defending States' Rights
Senator Max Baucus. Courtesy of Wikipedia
Sen. Max Baucus
Sen. Max Baucus
"The real issue is whether the Federal Government should intrude into an area that has traditionally and appropriately been left to the States and force them into accepting its solution to the problem of drunk driving."
- Democratic Senator Max Baucus of Montana, 1984
Senator Gordon J. Humphrey. Courtesy of Wikipedia
Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey
Sen. Gordon J. Humphrey
"Who are we, the national Legislature, which has done a perfectly abysmal job in managing our own business, to tell the states how to manage their business? Where do we stop enlarging the power of the Federal Government and protect the sovereignty of the states?"
- Republican Senator of New Hampshire, Gordon J. Humphrey, 1984
Senator Steven D, Symms. Courtesy of History House Government
Sen. Steven D. Symms
Sen. Steven D. Symms
''Do we have the right to force-feed our Washington wisdom down the mouths of our states?''
- Republican of Idaho, Steven D. Symms, 1984
President Ronald Reagan Defending States' Rights
"President Ronald Reagan." Courtesy of Politico, 1984
"Ronald Regean changed his position on the National Minimum Legal Drinking Age Act. Marlin Fitzwater, White House spokesman during Regean’s presidency, stated “we have taken a look at the evidence of the number of lives saved, and the record, and it is so overwhelming it is a case we feel deserves our support, despite our states' rights philosophy”" (Toomey).
Analysis on States' Rights
"Frank R. Lautenberg." Courtesy of the New York Times
Thomas' Senate Analysis
Thomas' Senate Analysis
"The pending Lautenberg amendment, however, which would coerce States into establishing a 21-year-old drinking age, should be rejected because it would result in Federal encroachment into areas that have been reserved to the States under the Constitution. It is clear that all powers not specifically delegated to the Federal Government by the Constitution are reserved to the States and to the people” (National Youth Rights Association).
Courtesy of Cleveland State Law Review
The Cleveland Law Review
The Cleveland Law Review
“The opponents of the Act raise the issue that, in its current form, the Act treads on the sacred ground of state sovereignty. The argument in favor of the states regulating the drinking age is that, in a culturally diverse democracy, state action is a more effective method of controlling social behavior” (Cleveland State Law Review, 1984).
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