[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 12 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               FEDERALISM

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I support Senate bill 1 to eliminate 
unfunded mandates to States and local government. There is no doubt 
about the onerous imposition of very expensive projects on State and 
local government which have been decreed out of Washington, DC, and the 
Federal Government. I think as a matter of fundamental fairness, if we 
decide something ought to be done as a matter of national policy, then 
we ought to be paying for it.
  Many have spoken about the principle of federalism, which is the 
concept that the United States was founded on. It is to leave to the 
States all that was not specifically delegated to the Federal 
Government in the Constitution on the very obvious point of having the 
governmental unit closest to the people making the decision. Also, as a 
matter of federalism and the concept of federalism, the idea is to 
leave to local government as much as possible so the people closest to 
the problem may decide what they want to spend their money on.
  We have within the bill presently on the floor the principle of the 
States leaving to local government the maximum amount possible without 
telling local government what ought to be done. So I think this is a 
sound bill. I look forward to its early passage as a signal to the 
American people that the mandate from the last election is being 
complied with. We have already enacted important legislation which 
imposes on every Member of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of 
Representatives the same obligations that any other American citizen 
bears. That is sound as a matter of basic fairness but also sound as 
part of the regulatory system so we may not overly burden American 
business and the American people when we have to comply with the same 
rules.
  Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that I may make two brief 
statements as in morning business. There is no one else on the floor to 
speak to the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection the Senator from 
Pennsylvania is recognized as in morning business.
  Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair and I ask unanimous consent my 
following remarks be captioned: ``Silvi Morton Specter.''
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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