The perm solves – robust federal hiring programs incentivizes uncooperative states to follow along.
Carpenter and Hamilton ’20 (1) Daniel Carpenter is Allie S. Freed Professor of Government and Chair of the Department of Government in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University. He taught previously at Princeton University (1995-1998) and the University of Michigan (1998-2002). (2) Darrick Hamilton is a university professor, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy, and the founding director of the institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School. “A FEDERAL JOB GUARANTEE: ANTI-POVERTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE POLICY FOR A BETTER FUTURE.” Scholars Strategy Network, 4/30/20, https://scholars.org/contribution/federal-job-guarantee, (WA)
Direct government hiring by federal agencies would be essential for many reasons. First, in a polarized political environment, it is quite possible that some states may obstruct cooperation with federal government employment. Having a robust program of federal hiring, including directly in uncooperative states, would broaden the distribution of benefits and mechanize the mandate for guaranteed employment. The federal government has a well-established personnel system that has expanded before: witness the mobilization of government employment after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, including the creation of a new Cabinet-level department and the launching of new agencies such as the Transportation Security Agency (TSA).
Congress should both create new federal programs and fund federal agencies to expand existing programs. The kinds of programs can and should be shaped by the imperative social, political, and economic needs of the American republic.