--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the governors would all agree…" description: "\"I think the governors would all agree that what we don't want from the federal government is unfunded mandates.\" — James Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-douglas-43929_agree_i-think-the-governors-would-all-agree-th_703380.jpg" --- # I think the governors would all agree that what we don't… ![“I think the governors would all agree that what we don't want from the federal government is unfunded mandates.” quote by James Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-douglas-43929_agree_i-think-the-governors-would-all-agree-th_703380.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-douglas-43929_agree_i-think-the-governors-would-all-agree-th_703380.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-douglas-43929_agree_i-think-the-governors-would-all-agree-th_703380.jpg) > “I think the governors would all agree that what we don't want from the federal government is unfunded mandates.” [James Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unfunded mandates are the primary concern about federal overreach. **In simple terms:** Avoid government mandates without funding. Key Takeaway Demand funding before imposing mandates. Themes government fiscal responsibility policy Mood skeptical analytical Type political critical When to use this quote - state budgeting - federal programs - taxpayer impact Key Concepts budget constraints public administration legislation Questions to Reflect On - Are all mandates harmful? - How to balance funding and regulation? A Different Perspective Mandates can still be justified for public good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Federal government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-government/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Governors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/governors/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Congress seems to thrive on breaking promises and passing unfunded mandates down to local government. It's really just a matter of priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/congress-seems-to-thrive-on-breaking-promises-and-passing-unfunded/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Social Security represents an $11 trillion unfunded obligation. And when I say unfunded obligation, I mean we have to come up with $11 trillion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-snow/social-security-represents-an-11-trillion-unfunded-obligation-and/) [John W. Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-snow/) > [If social security depresses savings rates, it is only because it is unfunded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/if-social-security-depresses-savings-rates-it-is-only-because-it-is/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [For too long, unfunded federal mandates have drained the budgets of states and communities. The strength and vitality of our communities must be restored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/for-too-long-unfunded-federal-mandates-have-drained-the-budgets-of/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [The real number of the US' obligations, unfunded obligations that we're passing on to our future generates is more like $70 trillion to $75…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-e-sasse/the-real-number-of-the-us-obligations-unfunded-obligations-that-we-re/) [Benjamin E. 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What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-country-has-large-unfunded-liabilities-social-security-health/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [We have seen that, in another unfunded mandate, the so-called No Child Left Behind Act, which created tougher standards, and we all support that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-filner/we-have-seen-that-in-another-unfunded-mandate-the-so-called-no-child/) [Bob Filner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-filner/) > [The Constitution does not require complete separation of church and state; it affirmatively mandates accommodation, not merely tolerance, of all religions, and forbids hostility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-constitution-does-not-require-complete-separation-of-church-and/) [Warren E. 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It leaves consumers with very little real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-gottlieb/obamacare-mandates-a-largely-uniform-structure-and-set-of-benefits/) [Scott Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-gottlieb/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [In entirely unrelated news, there's a new proposal to mandate coverage for gay infertility. The problem is that gay infertility is just biology. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/in-entirely-unrelated-news-there-s-a-new-proposal-to-mandate-coverage/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/) [Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/) ## More by James Douglas > [It is a good idea to be alone in a garden at dawn or dark so that all its shy presence may haunt you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-douglas/it-is-a-good-idea-to-be-alone-in-a-garden-at-dawn-or-dark-so-that-all/) [James Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-douglas/) > [France is a pretty stable democracy, but incidents occur. And I was pleased to have police accompaniment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-douglas/france-is-a-pretty-stable-democracy-but-incidents-occur-and-i-was/) [James Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-douglas/) > [The people in Dominica and the small communities where I were had no idea who I was, and there's no better security than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-douglas/the-people-in-dominica-and-the-small-communities-where-i-were-had-no/) [James Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-douglas/) > [We've got people, our friends and neighbors, who are losing their jobs, factories being closed. We have to get America moving again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-douglas/we-ve-got-people-our-friends-and-neighbors-who-are-losing-their-jobs/) [James Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-douglas/) > [Well, I don't think so, because the president and members of Congress and governors have the same constituents. 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