`HONORING' MANDATES

Whenever the federal government decides to do something for 250 million-plus Americans, it usually decides what it wants and then tells someone else to do it. In literally hundreds of instances, the feds have told states, counties and cities to spend local dollars on federal programs. Here are some examples:

-- Kalamazoo, Mich., was required to put hydrocarbon detectors on the smokestack at its wastewater sludge incinerator.

-- The state of Indiana is required to test for a pesticide used only in Hawaii on pineapples.

-- The nation's capital was required to install tiny bumps on subway platforms so blind people wouldn't walk off the edges.

-- Knoxville, Tenn., has spent $700,000 on a consultant to study storm sewers at the behest of Uncle Sam. No telling how much actual storm-sewer repairs and construction will cost. The study didn't say.

These are examples of federal mandates. Guess what: State and local governments would like for the federal government to stop it. Stop imposing costly programs on them without bothering to send along the funding as well.

All of this is receiving a good deal of attention as National Unfunded Mandates Week draws to a close. Cities across the nation are marking the week with observances, resolutions and a good bit of mayoral outrage.

Here's the deal: Many of the federal mandates are considered to be good public policy. Having blind people walk off a subway platform onto the tracks and into the path of a train doesn't look good on travel brochures. But the mandates cost billions of dollars. It is pretty easy to guess who pays: local taxpayers.

Because this is an election year, the unfunded mandates are getting even more attention. The National Association of Counties is taking advantage of promise-them-anything candidates by asking congressional hopefuls to sign a pledge for mandate-relief legislation.

LaGrange, Ga., might have the right approach. It puts a plain-language notice on all of its utility bills: "State and federal costs are beyond the control of your mayor and council. To discuss these costs, please call your state senator or representative and your U.S. senators and representative."