Political Quotes

“But since debate on the floor began, it is clear the bill's opponents just do not get it. The supporters of unfunded mandates continue to argue that if there was no big brother, a Federal big brother, America's children would be subjected to all sorts of horrible things. They seem to be saying Washington cannot trust the State Governors and legislators with these responsibilities. Well, the taxpayers know better. It is time to change that same mentality that has governed this town for the last 40 years. State Governors and elected officials were chosen, and the taxpayers are being belittled by Members of this body for those choices. Apparently, the only people who know how to clean the water or take care of the children are those whose credentials are backed by the Federal bureaucracy. How unthoughtful to those State and local officials and to the voters who decided to change to a new way of thinking at both the State and Federal levels. It is time to give local officials a little credit and adopt the unfunded mandates legislation.”