Political Quotes

“I rise today to first of all congratulate and commend the Senator from Idaho for his leadership in bringing this very important legislation to the floor of the Senate and the Senator Glenn for being a leader on this issue as well. Mr. President, I also rise today to join the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities, the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and countless State and local governments in support of S. 1, a bill curbing the imposition of unfunded Federal mandates. I have consistently fought to return accountability to the Federal Government and fiscal priority-setting and decisionmaking to the levels of Government closest to the people. In the 102d Congress, I introduce the first bill that would have banned all future unfunded Federal mandates. I reintroduced this bill in the 103d Congress, and have now offered it here--in the Senate--as S. 139. My first preference is for this sort of legislation, that eliminates all unfunded mandates, of any kind. But I recognize the importance of moving forward on this important legislation, and taking steps necessary to curb and ultimately eliminate unfunded Federal mandates. This is why I am particularly pleased that the majority leader has made this legislation to curb unfunded mandates a priority in the 104th Congress.”