Mark Hatfield: “on the first day of the 104th Congress, I introduced a package of five bills--my legislative priorities for the coming…”

“on the first day of the 104th Congress, I introduced a package of five bills--my legislative priorities for the coming session. At that time, I stated that one of my main priorities during the 104th Congress will be to look for ways to redefine Federal programs to enhance the efforts toward reform already underway in the States. The three bills I introduced on that first day are designed to decrease the burden of Federal compliance and oversight measures in key policy areas. In exchange for loosening the Federal regulatory straitjacket, 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 levels is nurtured and rewarded. It is in that context today that I join my good friend and colleague from Florida, Mr. Graham, in introducing the Health Partnership Act of 1995. This bill is very similar to the legislation we introduced at the end of the 103d Congress when it became apparent that efforts to pass comprehensive reform would fail. Rather than federalizing health care, this bill would encourage the States to innovate and help build the best approaches to addressing our health care problems--a return to the true essence of federalism. To date, six States have enacted comprehensive health care reform proposals--Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, Minnesota, Florida, and Washington.”