Political Quotes

“our Nation's Governors, mayors, and county executives have long sought relief from the imposition of unfunded mandates by the Federal Government. For too long, we have thought too little about the consequences of Federal decisions on the budgets of States, cities, counties, and towns. With the passage of S.1, the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act, the Senate has undertaken an important and historic restructuring of the intergovernmental relationship between Washington and State and local governments. Much of the debate on this bill has been about achieving an appropriate balance between the need to reduce the fiscal burdens on State and local governments and concern over impairment of the ability of Congress to legislate in areas where Federal responsibility is clear. Several amendments were debated on the floor in an attempt to achieve this balance. Among the amendments which I supported, but which was defeated, was one which would have excluded from S.1's procedures mandates intended to apply equally to governmental entities and the private sector.”