NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “President Clinton's crime bill of 1994 was either a masterstroke of genius or it was a joke wrapped around a sham…”

“President Clinton's crime bill of 1994 was either a masterstroke of genius or it was a joke wrapped around a sham surrounded by a barrel of pork. I'm inclined to agree the latter possibility is closer to the truth. The proponents of last year's crime bill proclaimed from every rooftop that 100,000 police would be put on the streets. What they didn't tell anyone was that local governments had to cough up 25 percent of the cost of fielding these police officers. With most local and State governments cracking under the strain of other Federal mandates, many localities could not afford yet another mandate. Mr. Speaker, we must reform last year's crime bill and help local governments by giving them block grants instead of punishing them with more mandates. Local control and local problem solving from those on the front line combating crime, that is the key, not one-size-fits-all from an idiocracy ensconced on the banks of the Potomac. Mr. Speaker, Americans spoke last November 8. They continue to speak through this Contract With America. We will enact it and we will get tough on crime.”