John Mica: “During the 103d Congress I had the opportunity to serve on the House subcommittee that considered unfunded mandate…”

“During the 103d Congress I had the opportunity to serve on the House subcommittee that considered unfunded mandate legislation. Our subcommittee held hearings both in Washington and field hearings throughout the country. We heard local officials testify in Pennsylvania, for example, that it would be cheaper to deliver bottled water to local residents rather than comply with proposed new Federal mandates. We heard that most local governments operate under restrictive mileage or tax caps, and are also required, unlike Congress, to balance their budgets. We clearly heard that Congress, through unfunded mandates, has pushed them to their financial limits. In my congressional district, our subcommittee heard our Orlando mayor explain how Federal mandates required needlessly taking naturally occurring substances out of our drinking water at one point in the treatment process and then replacing them at another point, at a very high cost. Unfunded Federal mandates have now become the greatest single source of increases in local taxes. The problem today, Mr. Chairman, is little different from the problem in 1776: taxation without the consent of local representation.”