Sen. Bob Bennett and DoD official brief House on unfunded mandates, health care and WWII commemoration

Senator Bob Bennett spoke to the House Committee of the Whole about federal issues affecting Utah, emphasizing unfunded federal mandates, the prospects for national health care legislation, and fiscal priorities.

Bennett said his freshman colleagues found consensus on the harm of unfunded mandates and described an approach proposed by Senator Gregg that would require federal cost estimates and allow a point of order if a bill lacks one; he warned that unfunded mandates impose costs on states and highlighted work in the Senate committee on the issue. "If it is not in there, the bill is subject to a point of order," Bennett said, describing the enforcement mechanism being discussed in Washington. He also criticized quick emergency classifications that add to deficit pressures and discussed the need to be cautious in designing health care reforms, using Medicare as a cautionary example about long-term cost projection errors.

Members asked about water rights and an EPA emissions-testing pilot in Utah County; Bennett said he would take information back to Washington and encouraged Utah representatives to work together to address federal agency actions that affect the state.

Later the House received Lieutenant General Claude Kicklighter of the Department of Defense, who outlined the purpose of the World War II 50th anniversary commemoration: to thank and honor veterans, to remember family sacrifices, and to restore history education in schools. Kicklighter said Salt Lake City had been selected as a commemorative city and described the national committee's educational and commemorative mission. The House presented a resolution of appreciation to the general.

Next steps: Senator Bennett invited members to submit specific concerns for follow-up; Lieutenant General Kicklighter's visit was acknowledged with a House resolution and no additional legislative action was recorded in the transcript.