Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Clinton OKs Limit on Unfunded Mandates

President Clinton signed a second GOP “contract with America” bill--this one requiring Congress to pay for many of the mandates it imposes on states. In a Rose Garden speech, Clinton said the legislation shows that “Republicans and Democrats can come together and break gridlock and do what the American people expect of us.” He earlier signed a contract bill requiring lawmakers to abide by the same employment laws as private business. The “unfunded mandates” bill requires Congress to identify costs of proposed rules and pay state and local governments for any expenses above $50 million.