J. Exon: “as we move forward on the mandates legislation, I would like to read a portion of a newspaper article that appeared in…”

“as we move forward on the mandates legislation, I would like to read a portion of a newspaper article that appeared in the Omaha World Herald on January 24. The headline reads: ``States Fear Mandates, Expert Says; Balanced Budget Could Mean More,'' by David C. Beeder, of the Omaha World Herald Bureau in Washington, DC. The story reads: States will not support a constitutional amendment to balance the Federal budget unless it includes a guarantee they won't have to assume more Federal programs, a former assistant attorney general said on Monday. Charles Cooper, who practices constitutional law in Washington, said: ``The States are already groaning under the cost of implementing Federal policies.'' It goes on to say: Cooper, who served in the Justice Department during the Reagan administration, said he supports a balanced budget amendment.”