The pandemic exacerbated the trend of growing federal power, and Republican state legislators are concerned about it. New mask guidance has spurred a backlash from local leaders who are now anxious about the possibility of further restrictions, including a vaccine mandate and new lockdowns. In addition, a number of states are fighting against federal restrictions included in the COVID relief plan on tax cuts . The federal government is exercising its rights far beyond what the constitution allows, according to Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, who is a Republican. “That’s probably the biggest threat we face,” he told The Epoch Times on July 30. State legislators are “very capable to manage their affairs. And we really don’t need that federal overreach.” Adams who is also the chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) hosted the organization’s annual meeting in Utah on July 28-30. Thousands of state and local leaders gathered for the ALEC …