Mark Hatfield: “this country has crossed many thresholds of change in the past two hundred years. As we being the 104th Congress today…”

“this country has crossed many thresholds of change in the past two hundred years. As we being the 104th Congress today, we face another set of challenges. The opportunity to change direction in our national domestic policy is again offered to us, facilitated by the recent change in leadership. The Republican call to return to the essence of democracy-- federalism--is especially exciting. I intend to dedicate myself this Congress to redefining Federal programs to enhance the efforts already underway in the States. I am convinced, as are many of my colleagues, that the best policy making in this country is bubbling forth from laboratories commonly known as our United States. To inaugurate the new year and the new Congress, I am introducing five of my key legislative priorities today. First, in what I intend to be a series of proposals, are three bills designed to decrease the burden of Federal compliance and oversight measures in key policy areas. In exchange for loosening the Federal regulatory straightjacket, we will transform accountability from paperwork requirements to performance-based results. I call this the ``flexibility factor'' in government and it entails finding a path through every Federal agency where innovation at the State and local level is nurtured and rewarded.”