Gary Condit: “I rise tonight obviously in support of H.R. 3534, the Mandate Information Act of 1998. This is not a new idea, it is an…”

“I rise tonight obviously in support of H.R. 3534, the Mandate Information Act of 1998. This is not a new idea, it is an old idea with a little different twist. It still requires accountability and openness. The chairman of the Committee on Rules explained the bill very well, talked about the $100 million threshold, the fact that if you reach a $100 unfunded mandate that there is a point of order process. That is basically what this bill does, it allows us to have a debate. As we hear discussion about this tonight and tomorrow, Members are going to hear that this unfunded mandate bill will set us back, that it will destroy some of the things that we have done, say in the workplace, safety in the workplace, et cetera. That is not true. This bill does not turn anything back. It simply requires us to be accountable and responsible for the unfunded mandates we place on the private sector. That is what this bill does. It requires us to have an open debate. We cannot take away the mandate with that debate. We still have a vote after we call the point of order. What this simply does, it is a very simple idea, it just gives us more information that Members can make an informed decision about a mandate on the private sector.”