August 5, 2007
State Lawmakers Intercept Shipment of Federal Unfunded Mandates and Cost-Shifts
Modern-day Boston Tea Party protests overreaching federal government
BOSTON - State lawmakers kicked off their 2007 Legislative Summit today aboard a schooner loaded with crates of federal unfunded mandates and cost shifts. The event, a modern-day Boston Tea Party, was staged to protest an overreaching federal government that is passing billions of dollars in unfunded mandates and cost shifts on to the states. [View video of the event]
"States can ill afford to absorb the costs of federally mandated programs which are taxing state budgets," said Texas Senator and National Conference of State Legislatures President Leticia Van de Putte. "Congress must start making the difficult decisions and stop passing the buck to the states."
Over the past four fiscal years, the federal government has passed along more than $100 billion worth of unfunded mandates and costs shifts to the states. At their "Boston Tea Party," state legislators highlighted several mandates and cost shifts that are particularly troublesome including:
- The Real ID Act. Cost to states: $11 billion over five years.
- No Child Left Behind. Cost to states: $12 billion per year.
State legislators from all 50 states and around the world will meet here this week to discuss the nation's most pressing public policy issues. Lawmakers and their staffs will have the opportunity learn from their colleagues and to network with national policy experts, advocates and government leaders at any of the more than 200 policy sessions over the course of five days.
The National Conference of State Legislatures 2007 Legislative Summit will draw nearly 9,000 people to Boston generating an $18.2 million economic benefit to the city and state.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs 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.
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