[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE BURDEN OF UNFUNDED MANDATES

  (Mr. MARTINI asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, most of us know how difficult it is to be a 
local official. Let us not make it any tougher. The burden of unfunded 
mandates had not gone away since last week.
  Local governments are still toiling under their yoke losing money in 
paperwork complying with one-size-fits-all regulations from Congress.
  I ask the opponents of this bill, how many times do you need to hear 
the following before you understand: There is nothing in this bill that 
prevents us from passing an unfunded mandate if we deem it in the 
national interest.
  The difference this legislation will make is that from now on, we 
will be fully aware of what we are mandating. Before this legislation, 
all we knew was the good we wanted to do. After we pass this bill, we 
will also know what it costs to do the good. The latter is just as 
important as the former.

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