Bob Wise: “the gentleman before me spoke about the baseball season. I want to speak some about the legislative season. It has had…”

“the gentleman before me spoke about the baseball season. I want to speak some about the legislative season. It has had its opening day and now goes into the first games of the season. The first game, obviously, being this Thursday and Friday as I understand it, the unfunded mandates bill that will be on the floor of the House. I have no problems with voting on this issue. I have no problems with voting on any of the issues that are in the so-called Contract With America that the Republican Party is bringing forth. Indeed, I think that the debate is wholesome and worthwhile to have on many of these issues. To debate though means debate. It means having the opportunity. It means being able to play, using the baseball analogy, it means being able to play a full nine innings. But what does not help this House is when you go immediately from the opening ball to the ninth inning. That is what is happening in the unfunded mandates bill. That is my concern about what is happening with the important balanced budget amendment and others. Let me explain.…”