Political Quotes

“I rise today as an advocate of the States, my district, and all Americans who have experienced the heavy hand of Federal Government mandates too long. In the next 5 years alone, unfunded mandates will cost our Nation's counties 12.3 percent of their revenues and nearly $34 billion. Today, however, we are attempting to turn back the tide of offering legislation that says no more to unfunded mandates. While I support this bill wholeheartedly, I believe that this is only the first step in a long and trying process of rolling back supposed benefits that the Federal Government has imposed upon the States. Tomorrow I will be offering amendments intended to strengthen H.R. 5. We all want clean water and we all want clean air and access to the handicapped and so on. However, we must have the responsibility to ask the question, ``At what cost?'' I urge my colleagues to carefully consider and support my amendments. Let's pass this bill and take an important step forward in freeing the States and the people from the heavy hand of the Federal Government.”