Bob Filner: “The Majority is again sacrificing commonly accepted rules, practices, traditions, and even their own sacred mantras to…”

“The Majority is again sacrificing commonly accepted rules, practices, traditions, and even their own sacred mantras to meet their own partisan needs of the moment. The self-proclaimed party of family values now seeks to strip the name of America's founding father, George Washington, from the airport that serves the capital city, also named in his honor. The Congressional Majority that only 3 years ago legislated a prohibition on unfunded mandates now blindly ignores the unfunded costs imposed on the Metropolitan Washington Airport's Authority and other local jurisdictions. The Majority that purports to favor low local control and coined the word ``devolution'' now dismisses any notion of local control. They disregard the opinions and wishes of our colleagues who represent the airport, as well as the local airport authority, which itself was created by legislation that Mr. Reagan signed. The mantra of a smaller, less intrusive government is conveniently forgotten again as the heavy arm of Congress reaches out to impose its big government will by edict. Forgotten too are the accepted practices of not renaming structures, of seeking bipartisan support for naming efforts and of not naming structures of people who are still living. It is all another case of ``Do as I say, not as I do,'' Mr. Chairman. The rules do not suit the Majority, so the Majority is changing the rules.”