Rob Portman

With respect to this amendment, is the gentleman concerned about the fact that future legislation might be subject to title III of the bill; in other words, subject to a CBO cost analysis, and then a point of order on the floor, which…

Just to clarify a few of the points, Mr. Chairman, when the gentleman took to the floor earlier, and his colleague, and in some of the statements he just made, it is unclear to me as to whether he is concerned about title III of the bill…

I am not saying that prospective regulations would not come under this very limited title II of the bill. Absolutely, they should. That is the whole point, is to get a written assessment of the cost of new regulation. What I said, and…

The gentleman's statement was that the agency action cannot be challenged. It indeed can be challenged. What this does is put into statute the written assessment of the cost of agency action.

I think that is precisely why we need to have it in statute. I thought there was an agreement in this body, a consensus that the costs and benefits of legislation ought to be known, and in addition, that when new regulations were…

This new legislation does not apply to the Clean Air Act, it does not apply retroactively, it applies prospectively only. The discussion here on this amendment is as to new mandates that might arise under clean air and other environmental…

I would say our partners in local and State government feel they are paying far more than their share. I would say that the citizens of the United States who are paying hidden taxes, where we take the credit for imposing mandates on State…

First let me say to the gentleman from New York I appreciate all the input he has made to this issue. We would not be here today on the floor if it was not for the gentleman from New York [Mr. Towns]. Chairman Towns last year in his…

Is the gentleman aware of the fact that the current executive order issued by President Clinton would require even more agency information to be provided and that information is not regularly provided?

Personally, I would say that speaking for the majority I am absolutely sure we are going to address that issue, and I am confident that when we get to title II, the gentleman and others will raise that issue, and we look forward to that…