[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1393-S1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         UNFUNDED MANDATES BILL

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I simply rise to express my concern about 
the lack of progress that we have made 
[[Page S1394]] in the last several days on a bill that I think is 
generally supported in this body, certainly is supported by me and I 
know is supported by almost all of the leaders in local governments 
throughout the country.
  I have watched the progress or, indeed, the lack of it on S. 1 for 7 
or 8 days now. I have listened with a good deal of interest and watched 
the process, and I must tell you that it is an exasperating process. We 
have had, I think, more than 100 amendments, many of which were not 
germane to the issue that is before us. They certainly have to be 
considered as stalling tactics. I have heard Senators review endlessly 
the same kinds of issues on the floor which leads one to conclude that 
nothing more than stalling is happening.
  We have heard discussions about previous years and the things that 
have happened in previous bills that have little, if any, relevance to 
what we are doing here.
  I support the unfunded mandates bill. I think most people in the 
Senate support this bill, and I think the American people generally 
support this bill. I have come, as others have, from the House. I 
served in the Wyoming Legislature, and I have not seen a process which 
has no apparent purpose or goal be executed as has this one over the 
last several days.
  I do not fully understand yet all of the intricacies, of course, of 
the U.S. Senate, but I do understand that there is a need to have a 
process by which people can insist upon more detail, can insist upon 
more time being taken so that everyone does understand, so that 
everyone has an opportunity.
  But I must tell you that I have not been able to detect that there is 
any particular goal, that there is any particular purpose being served 
by the time we have taken here.
  I think it is very important that we come to this place after having 
been through an election recently in which people in this country 
expressed themselves, I think, very clearly, expressed themselves in 
terms of wanting this Government to proceed, wanting this Government to 
move forward, wanting this Government to deal with the issues that are 
there, that are so apparent.
  I think people are tired of unproductive maneuvers throughout the 
Congress, stalling tactics, and I think this is an example of that.
  Mr. President, it seems to me that this delay over unfunded mandates 
is ultimately useless. The bill will ultimately pass. This will not 
change the outcome.
  The bill is a flexible bill. It does not simply impose unfunded 
mandates on issues or on people, but it simply says there will be an 
accounting for what the impact of these proposals will be. It simply 
says that when there is an accounting that demonstrates an expenditure 
of over $50 million, that there will be cause for a point of order and 
a vote so that this Senate will take a look at it. Processwise, if the 
Senate continues to lag, action will be criticized.
  Again, make no mistake, the bill will eventually pass. Changing 
Washington and changing the way we do business has been called for. It 
is a long process, but it is happening and it is happening now. Indeed, 
it should happen. Procedural changes such as a balanced budget 
amendment, such as limiting unfunded mandates, such as line-item veto, 
and, indeed, term limits are the kinds of procedural changes that will 
have an impact over time on the way we govern.
  So we are witnessing the first protests of a huge change, and I 
understand that. Unfunded mandates will be banned. Washington will 
change. Some will not like it but the people in the country will. I 
urge us to move forward. I urge us to move forward and do the business 
of the people of this country.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the remainder of my time.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Inhofe). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


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