Orrin Hatch: “I am very concerned that without a concrete assurance in the bill, our states will be saddled with requirements that are…”

“I am very concerned that without a concrete assurance in the bill, our states will be saddled with requirements that are clearly out of their financial reach. I hear what my friend, Senator Dodd, is saying and I would like to believe that there will be adequate funding for all of the provisions in S. 565. On the other hand I have received countless entreaties from local governments who are, simply put, skeptical that the federal government will provide them with adequate funding. Without that funding, obviously, an unfunded mandates. That is what I would like to avoid. That being said, Senator Dodd does raise a good point when he reminds us that many of the cosponsors of the Election Reform Act serve on the Appropriations Committee. On the other side, one of the great fears of those who I represent with this amendment is that future congresses will not share the same commitment. It is my hope and I'm sure the hope of all of the cosponsors of this amendment that the appropriators will endeavor to fund fully all of the provisions within the bill.”