Porter Goss: “I think this is a good rule, an open rule. I congratulate the leadership for these open rules, especially on things like…”

“I think this is a good rule, an open rule. I congratulate the leadership for these open rules, especially on things like the Mandates Information Act of 1998. I think this bill takes the next step on the issue of unfunded mandates that we need to take. It recognizes the need for greater accountability in this Congress for the impact that our actions have on the lives of real people outside the Beltway. Those are the people we work for. In the 104th Congress, the new majority broke ground on this subject, implementing changes in our House rules to make sure that Members are aware of the fiscal impact on State and local governments of legislation when we pass it. At that time, we included illustrative provisions relating to so-called, quote, ``private sector mandates'' or ``Federal actions and requirements'' that impose significant costs on elements of the private sector. Today we move that commitment on private sector mandates to a par with what we are already doing vis-a-vis the public sector. It makes sense. It is what we said we were going to do.”