End of Federalism?

George Will:
Such a federal ukase (the word derives from czarist Russia; how appropriate) to a state legislature is a sign of the administration's dependency agenda -- maximizing the number of people and institutions dependent on the federal government. For the first time, neither sales nor property nor income taxes are the largest source of money for state and local governments. The federal government is.

Emphasis mine. This is a remarkable and under-reported event. I understand that there has been a sudden jump in Federal aid to the states, and a dip in property taxes, but still it an impressive milestone. Does it represent an end to Federalism? If the Federal government controls the purse, what powers do state and local government really have?

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