Bob Dole: “one of the first decisions I had to make as majority leader was which bill should be designated S. 1. When I considered…”

“one of the first decisions I had to make as majority leader was which bill should be designated S. 1. When I considered the message the American people sent us last November, the decision was easy. I chose Senator Kempthorne's unfunded mandates bill, because it shows we are serious about reining in the power of the Federal Government. The 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people. When the 104th Congress convened, I pledged that we would dust off the 10th amendment, and restore it to its rightful place in the Constitution. The unfunded mandates bill is the first step in the important process of returning power to the States and to the people. For far too long, Congress has operated under the false assumption that legislation that did not affect the Federal Government had no cost. But, ask any mayor, Governor, county commissioner, or school board official--or any State and local taxpayer--and they will tell you otherwise. This law will change the way we do business in Washington.”