Unfunded Mandates Reform Act: Examining the Costs and Impacts

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) culminated years of efforts by state and local government officials and various business interests to control, if not eliminate, the imposition of unfunded intergovernmental and private sector federal mandates. Advocates argued the statute was needed to forestall federal legislation and regulations that imposed obligations on state and local governments or businesses that resulted in higher costs and inefficiencies. Opponents argued that feder...