[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 25 (Thursday, February 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MANDATES INFORMATION ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM DeLAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 10, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill H.R. 350) to 
     improve congressional deliberation on proposed Federal 
     private sector mandates, and for other purposes:

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my support for the 
Mandates Information Act. We are a government by, for and of the 
people. This legislation simply informs the America people of the costs 
of their government.
  There are many ways the federal government spends the hard-earned 
money of American families. The most notorious of course is direct 
taxation. But just as burdensome are unfunded mandates pushed on 
businesses and state and local governments--and right now there is no 
consistent accounting for how much these cost.
  Unlike most bills that create and then hide expenses, this one simply 
satisfies the right to know what the government is forcing others to 
spend. This bill exposes all the hidden taxes of government. It is 
purely informational. There is no language in the bill that affects 
environmental laws, or health and safety standards. In short, it says 
to each and every Member of Congress: think before you spend.
  It has become somewhat unfashionable for congressmen to be spend-
crazy. But rather than changing their ways, many simply vote to dump 
the cost on others. This bill makes congressmen think twice about 
voting for hidden government costs because it will chronicle those 
costs.
  Everyone likes to say that less control should be wielded by 
Washington and more work should be done on the private and local level. 
Even Bill Clinton claimed the era of big government is over. Now we 
need to do something about it. We need to get the federal government 
off the backs of businesses and state and local governments. I urge my 
colleagues to pass the Mandates Information Act without amendment.