Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I know that Members are happy and excited at the prospect that we are going to be dealing with unfunded mandates again today. A little Friday morning sarcasm, Mr. Chairman, because I really expect that the reverse is actually the case. We are hearing on both sides of the aisle that there is hope that we can come to a conclusion on this very important legislation, so I sense the reverse is true, and I would ask my colleagues, ``Who else really wants to see an end to this process?'' That would be the Nation's Governors, both Republicans and Democrats; the Nation's mayors, again both Republicans and Democrats; the Nation's county commissioners, the Nation's township supervisors, both Republicans and Democrats who really want to see this bill moved through the process. They are faced with some very hard choices, Mr. Chairman. They have to, in many cases, decide whether to continue or reduce a very vital local program in order to carry out a Federal mandate that is imposed upon them from here in Washington, and I must say, Mr. Chairman, that the passage of the balanced budget amendment last evening makes this an even more urgent requirement.”