WASHINGTON, DC - The Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995, which was co-sponsored by Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN), passed the House today with a bi-partisan vote of 360 to 74.
"I was very pleased to see my bill pass the House with strong bi-partisan support," Peterson said. "As I've said in the past, I would have preferred we pass a much tougher bill that would have required the federal government to pay for any mandates it passes on to state and local governments and the private sector. However, this bill does make Members of Congress accountable, by forcing a majority vote on any mandate.
"In addition, this legislation included my amendment that passed the House yesterday," Peterson said. "That amendment brought the cost threshold for the private sector down from $100 million to $50 million in direct costs. Now, the Congressional Budget Office will be required to prepare a detailed cost estimate for legislation containing $50 million in mandates on the private sector. The legislation already included a $50 million threshold for mandates on the public sector."
The Senate has already passed an Unfunded Mandates Reform bill, and the two bills will now go on to a conference committee.