GOP MOVES TO REIN IN FEDERAL MANDATES

GOP leaders advanced two small, but significant steps closer to fulfilling theirlegislative agendatoday, as two Senate committees approved bills that would require the federal government to fund new mandates imposed on the states. The Governmental Affairs and Budget committees passed the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act. The bill, said Senator William Roth of Delaware, chairman of the Governmental Affairs panel, would end the "steady stream of dictates from Washington on how to spend locally raised tax dollars." The full Senate is expected to take up the legislation on Wednesday, while the House will turn to the issue next week. The legislation is a key concern for the nation's governors, who have long complained of unreasonable spending requirements from Washington. Talk of a constitutional balanced budget amendment has only added to their anxiety, as such an amendment would inevitably shift more burdens to the states.