Unfunded Mandates

WASHINGTON -- It's not unusual for states to chafe at federal rules. But the state revolt against the federal law that filled America's classrooms with standardized tests is unprecedented. Forty-seven states are questioning, opposing or rebelling against the most sweeping education reform in a generation. In Utah, lawmakers ordered that state policy take precedence over federal policy. In Texas, educators were fined for failing to test students with learning disabilities as federal rules require.

Unfunded MandatesHave the citizens of Carroll County's municipalities ever wondered why the cost of providing services keeps going up? At the same time, do you hear from your local elected officials that they are doing all they can to contain these costs? Why the conflict?A major culprit is something called "unfunded mandates," which come from state and federal governments. Mandates are statutory, constitutional and administrative actions that place new fiscal or administrative requirements on local governments.

WASHINGTON -- Some members of Maryland's congressionaldelegation are worried that the fever raging on Capitol Hill to shrink the federal government could weaken environmental regulation and threaten the nation's health.They fear that the campaign by conservative Republicans against "unfunded mandates" -- laws that require states, localities and private industries to carry out improvements and pay for them as well -- could go too far.The House of Representatives began debate yesterday on a bill that would reduce much of the government's regulatory activity.

WASHINGTON -- With the House Republicans' "Contract with America" half completed, some objectives were quickly reached. These included requiring Congress to observe the same workplace laws that apply to the rest of the country, an independent audit of Congress, cuts in House committees and staffs, limits on committee chairmanships, an end to proxy voting in committee and opening most committee meetings to press and public.Of the specific legislative proposals, the House has passed the following in one form or another: the line-item veto, a constitutional amendment to balance the budget, new anti-crime and defense bills and limits on unfunded mandates on states.

Washington. -- Along with its shift in rules and the bid to pass a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution, the new Republican majority on Capitol Hill is moving with lightning speed to effect a historic shift of power from Washington to the states.Significant action is coming almost daily. Consider for example unfunded mandates -- Congress' habit of imposing social and environmental regulations without paying the increased costs incurred by state and local governments.An anti-mandate bill was introduced opening day January 4, got a Senate hearing January 5, was set for House floor debate within a week with congressional leaders saying they expected both houses' approval before President Clinton's State of the Union address January 24.But anti-mandate legislation alone leaves the governors uneasy -- worried, as Republican Gov. George Voinovich of Ohio puts it, that the states may be victims of ''shift and shaft,'' whereby Congress tries to balance the federal budget by mandating more and more costs to the states.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Attempting to allay fears from the states about the impact of proposed federal spending cuts, top Senate Republicans met privately in Washington yesterday with a contingent of Republican governors.The meeting in the office of Sen. Bob Dole, the Republican leader, came only hours before the governors gathered here for a three-day conference that is expected to focus on the relationship between the states and the new Republican majority on Capitol Hill."Our message will be to the Republican congressional leaders and to the people of this country: Give us the ball and then get out of the way. We can solve these problems," Gov. Mike Leavitt of Utah, the incoming chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said at an opening news conference last night.

The General Assembly should limit expensive mandates imposed on county school boards by the state Board of Education, state Sen. Charles H. Smelser says.The District 4 Democrat has introduced a bill that would require the state to pay for any mandate that would cost a county more than $250,000. Sen. Larry E. Haines, a District 5 Republican, is one of six co-sponsors of Senate Bill 242.State education officials continually develop programs -- many of them costly -- that county school boards are required to follow, Mr. Smelser said.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Gov. George V. Voinovich of Ohio, easily re-elected in the GOP tide that swept the nation two weeks ago, had a prediction about President Clinton here at the annual Republican Governors' Conference."

Washington. -- What mayor would have the moxie to dream up, virtually on his own, a far-reaching new national urban policy to save America's faltering big cities? And then, without asking a single other mayor for help, personally solicit active support of the president and vice president?Philadelphia's Edward Rendell says the federal government could ''tilt the playing field'' to help struggling older cities regain their economic sea legs without placing big demands on the strapped federal Treasury.

Carroll County legislators promise to be tough on crime and wary of Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke in the General Assembly session that begins tomorrow.Legislators predict that the 1994 session will be a calm one, free of major budget cuts and controversies.Three of the county's four delegates and one of its senators said they will introduce measures to deal with escalating crime.Members of the Carroll delegation agreed that Mr. Cooke's plan to build a football stadium in Laurel will be a hot issue.