Feds avoid bill by passing buck

When the federal government orders a state or local government to do something, whether they need it or not, and then makes them pay for it, it is called an "unfunded federal mandate." My granddaddy called it "passing the buck."

Passing the buck is now a common feature of the way Congress does business. Based on Vice President Al Gore's National Performance Review, there are now 174 unfunded federal mandates -- including the Federal Medical Leave Act and the Motor Voter Act passed since the Gore study. There were two in 1960.

To paraphrase Gregory Lashutka, spokesman for the National Conference of Mayors and mayor of Columbus, Ohio, unfunded mandates are like Uncle Sam taking you to dinner, ordering the wine and fine food, and then requiring you to pay the bill -- while your family is a home eating Campbell