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September 25, 2008...The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) strongly supports a new Congressional initiative to ease the burden on state level taxpayers resulting from programs mandated by the federal government, according to Massachusetts Senator Richard T. Moore, NCSL's Vice President. In a release, Moore, on behalf of NCSL, applauded the efforts of Representatives Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, and Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, for introducing the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2008.

"This new bill serves as an important reminder to Congress by making them more keenly aware how their actions, and those of the federal government, increase state costs and add unrequested duties for state governments - adding to the burden on the taxpayers of each of our states," said Sen. Moore. "It neither obstructs nor impedes legitimate actions of the federal legislative or regulatory process. What it would promote is greater transparency and fiscally responsible lawmaking."

The Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act of 2008 requires the federal government to provide more complete and accurate cost estimates on intergovernmental and private sector mandates. 

The bill would:

• Require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to determine how changes in requirements for existing federal grant programs would shift costs to state and local governments;
  
• Require CBO and the Joint Committee on Taxation to consider the impact of indirect costs associated with mandates;
  
• Close loopholes that exempt certain regulatory agencies from Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) requirements; 
  
• Ensure that agencies issue a report on costs of all final rules within six months of being published.

"With state legislatures across the country struggling to balance their budgets, this legislation ill help restore the intent of the UMRA, passed in 1995, to prevent the federal government from imposing unfunded mandates on state and local governments," Moore concluded.

NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staff of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.

For more information on Sen. Moore's work in NCSL and the Legislature, please visit www.senatormoore.com

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