[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 12 (Friday, January 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         SENATE RESOLUTION 68--REL- ATIVE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

  Mr. PRESSLER (for Mr. Bradley, for himself, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Dorgan, 
Mr. Simpson, Mr. Robb, Mr. Dole, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
Kempthorne, and Mr. Wellstone) submitted the following resolution; 
which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 68

     IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

       Whereas the Congress should be concerned about shifting 
     costs from Federal to State and local authorities and should 
     be equally concerned about the growing tendency of States to 
     shift costs to local governments;
       Whereas cost shifting from States to local governments has, 
     in many instances, forced local governments to raise property 
     taxes or curtail sometimes essential services; and
       Whereas increases in local property taxes and cuts in 
     essential services threaten the ability of many citizens to 
     attain and maintain the American dream of owning a home in 
     safe, secure community: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Federal Government should not shift certain costs 
     to the State, and States should end the practice of shifting 
     costs to local governments, which forces many local 
     governments to increase property taxes;
       (2) States should end the imposition, in the absence of 
     full consideration by their legislatures, of State issued 
     mandates on local governments without adequate State funding, 
     in a manner that may displace other essential government 
     priorities; and
       (3) one primary objective of this Act and other efforts to 
     change the relationship among Federal, State, and local 
     governments should be to reduce taxes and spending at all 
     levels and to end the practice of shifting costs from one 
     level of government to another with little or no benefit to 
     taxpayers.
     

                          ____________________