THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020415
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
House Republicans took a big step forward on their ``Contract With America'' agenda Wednesday, pushing through a bill restricting the federal government's ability to impose unfunded mandates on the states.
Negotiations to settle minor differences between the House and Senate versions of the measure and final votes in both chambers were the lone remaining obstacles to getting the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act to President Clinton's desk.
The bill, which would require that Congress pay for many programs it imposes on states and local governments, was approved by a 360-74 House vote.
All 230 Republicans in the House voted for the bill, along with 130 Democrats. Voting against it were 73 Democrats and the sole independent, Rep. Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
In other Congressional action:
Backers of the balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution were arguing for that measure during a third day of Senate debate.
A Senate Judiciary subcommittee became the first panel to approve a proposed Constitutional amendment to impose term limits on members of Congress. On a party-line vote of 5-3, the GOP-controlled panel approved a measure to bar senators from serving more than two full terms, and House members from serving more than six. That would allow 12 years of service in each chamber.
The House Judiciary Committee advanced Republican efforts to rewrite last year's anti-crime law, approving a measure that would spend $10.5 billion on prison construction, $2.5 billion more than in the 1994 law, but limit funding to states that are cracking down on violent criminals. ILLUSTRATION: HOW THEY VOTED
A ``yes'' vote is a vote to pass the bill.
Herbert Bateman, R-Va.......Yes
Owen B. Pickett, D-Va.......Yes
Robert C. Scott, D-Va........No
Norman Sisisky, D-Va........Yes
Eva Clayton, D-N.C. .........No
Walter Jones Jr., R-N.C.... Yes
KEY ELEMENTS
Congressional committees must assess the cost of any legislation
that creates new mandates or changes existing ones.
Congress can not consider unfunded mandates that cost states and
localities more than $50 million unless the measure is funded.
Legislation not meeting these requirements can be ruled out of
order. A majority vote can waive the funding requirement.
Federal agencies must publish cost-benefit analyses of new
regulations costing states, localities, or the private sector more
than $100 million annually.
Provisions enforcing constitutional or civil rights,
antidiscrimination laws or that provide emergency relief, are
necessary to national security or relate to Social Security are
exempt.
by CNB