Gary Condit: “I understand there have been times that local government has been slow to respond to things, and the Federal Government…”

“I understand there have been times that local government has been slow to respond to things, and the Federal Government frankly has not been perfect in responding to certain things as well, but I have much more faith than some of these people who have come to this floor, with local governments. We have heard stories that 'We would not have cleaned up sanitation facilities, we would not have built curb cuts.' We act as though local government officials have no incentive. They represent the same people we represent. They are trying to do good for their people as well. Mr. Chairman, I think it is a disservice for us to come here and suggest that they have no incentive to do the right thing for their people. Yes, they are slow. I can tell you why they are slow today, because they do not have much money. They are just about like we are. They are that far from the poorhouse. What we need to do, Mr. Chairman, is be cooperative and work with them and not put unfunded mandates on them. If we think it is a good idea, then let us just pay for it. Let us help them out, because I think their agenda is the same as my agenda, to do what is right for the American people, to do what is right for their constituents. If Members have never sat in a city hall chamber at a city council meeting, they do not know what the heat is, because the people come down there and they want things done. They want their wastewater treatment clean. They want their drinking water safe.”