What Happened to State's Rights?

Long ago, when I was in law school in Morgantown, I paid attention to Pennsylvania politics (since our "local" TV stations were from Pittsburgh). I vividly remember Tom Ridge running for Governor hitched the Contract With America ideals, including the concept of shifting more power and responsibility to the states. He won the election and was quickly faced with a series of devastating floods. What does he do? Immediately beg the Federal Government for help and bitch and moan when it didn't come.

Why do I bring it up? 'cause history is repeating itself. GOP Representative John Hostettler of Indiana was one of only 11 Congressmen to vote against the Katrina relief package in the days after the hurricane hit. Perhaps it was a principled decision and he's not just a heartless bastard. But signs point to the second option. After his district was ravaged by tornadoes last weekend, what did Hostettler do? Beg the Federal Government for help, of course. What's changed? He's facing a tough reelection campaign in 2006.