Political Quotes

“I am wondering whether or not the $200 million figure also goes up as well? It does. All right. That is fine if there is an inflation factor already built in. I thank the Senator from Ohio. Now, getting back to this question, let us assume that there is an estimate that the first affected year, the first fiscal year in which the mandate is in effect, let us say it is the year 2001. That is what CBO says. We have no better information. It is a guesstimate probably at best, the way a lot of these are going to be. But that is it. And so the threshold is now triggered. At that point we have to put the critical language in the bill that, unless the Appropriations Committee in the year 2001 puts in $50 million to fund this particular mandate, an agency 5 years from now must reduce the level of this mandate or, if no money is appropriated, must take the local and State governments off the hook totally. That language must be in the authorization bill that is passed now for 10 years from now.”