Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, the Constitution assigns to Congress a unique responsibility for regulating affairs among the States. The Founding Fathers correctly anticipated that without a singular Federal power to regulate commerce, travel, and other interstate affairs, this country could not exist as a united nation. That rational was the genesis of the commerce clause and the supremacy clause in the Constitution. It is also the underpinnings of this amendment. Once Congress abandons its responsibility to protect the health and safety our residents the integrity of our Federal system is jeopardized. This is why I vigorously support the amendment of the gentleman from New York [Mr. Towns]. Under this bill a point of order can be raised against intergovernmental mandates that are not fully paid for by Congress. Thus, a premise behind H.R. 5 is that it is the Federal Government's responsibility to pay States not to pollute. Under this bill, no State would pay for new requirements mandating it to clean up the air, the water or the environment unless Federal taxpayers foot the entire cost of the cleanup. This turns federalism on its head. Let me give you a personal observation: The health of my constituents in the seventh district in Chicago was severely effected recently because the city of Hammond, IN, was polluting Lake Michigan, and that polluted water was filtering into the Chicago water supply.”