Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I know what it is like to have to make those decisions on a State budget when you are getting mandates from the Federal…”

“I know what it is like to have to make those decisions on a State budget when you are getting mandates from the Federal Government and you have to say, ``Do I increase the elderly's light bill or the water bill of an elderly person because I have this mandate from the Federal Government?'' It is very difficult for elderly people to make ends meet. So when we are talking about eliminating a category of the elderly or children and their effects, I wonder if we have considered the effects of raising a water bill because of an environmental mandate that perhaps does not meet a cost-benefit analysis. All of these things that we are trying to prevent the Federal Government from passing to the States are going to have an impact for the good on children and the elderly. In fact, I think we have to say what this amendment really is. It is an amendment that will gut the bill.”