Rob Portman: “I think those purposes are noble, and I think some of the gentlewoman's concerns will be addressed in a later amendment…”

“I think those purposes are noble, and I think some of the gentlewoman's concerns will be addressed in a later amendment that she may well offer with regard to the commission in looking at this issue. I would say again the purposes of this legislation are to deal with unfunded Federal mandates at every level including at the local level, of course, and I think it would be unwise for us to put into the purposes clause that this legislation insures that States cannot do what is within their purview and not within the purview of Congress which is their dealings, their own partnership, as it were, with the local governments. I would say this would not be the appropriate place to deal with it. I do plan to support the amendment later, I believe, later that the gentlewoman may offer with regard to having the commission look at this issue.”