RECONSTRUCTION OF FEDERALISM - A CONSTITUTIONAL-AMENDMENT TO PROHIBITUNFUNDED MANDATES

Unfunded mandates are a serious problem burdening state and local gove rnments. When Congress directs localities to comply with expensive man dates without offering financial assistance, states must often decreas e crucial local services in order to meet the mandates' requirements. The authors are keenly aware of the profound effects unfunded mandates can have on states' budgets, decision making power, and autonomy. The y suggest a constitutional amendment prohibiting these Congressional d irectives as the only way to solve the many difficulties resulting fro m the glut of unfunded mandates.