Political Quotes

“I rise as a very strong supporter of S. 1, the unfunded mandates bill. I came to this body having served 8 years as Governor of Missouri, and I found that State government budgets were devastated by the costs of Federal mandates. I also know that they have been devastating in their impact on local governments. Kansas City, MO, finds the one-time cost to the city of implementing all the federally mandated environmental regulations in 1993 was some $56.2 million. Local governments are seeing their budgets robbed by Federal mandates. State governments find that they cannot utilize the tax dollars they want to, as they believe their voters and constituents want to, because they are preempted by the Federal Government. I believe this is a good measure. I took a look at this amendment that has been crafted by my good friend from Connecticut. I read it, and it is absolutely stunning in its simplicity. It says that Federal or governmental mandates does not include any provision in any bill that would apply in the same manner to activities, facilities, or services of State and local or tribal governments and the private sector. Madam President, that wipes out a tremendous sector of where the Federal mandates hit the State and local governments. That is not just a loophole big enough to drive a truck through, that is a loophole big enough to push this whole Capitol through.”