Political Quotes

“Thank you for your comments. I would like to say something other than what I prepared to tell you just about how bad this has become in my State of Oregon. I have a small community on the east side by the name of Haines. It has about 120 residents in that community, and it was founded over 150 years ago. They have had their water checked, and it is clean and has been forever. And yet under the Federal mandate, Clean Water Act, they are going to be compelled to put in a $40,000 system for 120 residents. The people of Haines cannot afford it. Most of the people there live on less than $1,000 a month. The Mayor of Haines came to the Oregon State Legislature, in which I served as a senator, and told the legislature, come and take the city. We will will you the city. We will deed the property back to the State, and you fill out these Federal mandates. Of course, the State backed off immediately. But the thing is that this puts a hardship on small communities that they just financially can't afford. I offer this amendment so that Congress will be forced to address the crucial questions that surround unfunded mandates. When we attempt to achieve the goals of clean air, clean water, a society accessible to the handicapped, and a just immigration policy, we have forgotten to ask 'at what cost?' Like any commodity or service we purchase, the benefits that are derived from the unfunded mandates are subject to the principle of diminishing marginal returns.”