Political Quotes

“the Senate began debate on unfunded mandates with the premise that the Federal Government should not indiscriminately force State and local governments to implement Federal statutes. With this premise, S. 1 goes to the heart of the way Government works in the United States. It seeks to change the balance between the Federal and State governments. I happen to agree with the premise and welcome a discussion about the balance of Government. I agree that the distant reach of Federal Government should not tell States how to take care of the special needs of their communities. I have been working for months to get the Federal Government to condone a dairy compact that several New England States have chosen for themselves. I also agree that local problems are best solved by local solutions. Again in Vermont, we worked to find flexibility in Federal statutes to deal with a superfund site, inspection and maintenance standards for Clean Air Act provisions, and other Federal laws. I believe it is not fair for Congress to make the rules and force state legislatures to levy the taxes to pay for them.”