The bill would alter deeply ingrained Federalism principles by prematurely involving the Federal courts in property regulatory matters that have historically been processed at the State and local level. Republicans Roukema, Saxton and Smith, cosponsors of the bill, voted against. The Clinton administration released its report of the investigation of the 1995 chemical plant explosion in Lodi, NJ to much criticism yesterday. Opponents want that responsibility to go to the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, a new but as yet unfunded organization similar to the National Transportation Safety Board. Funding for the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is considered a prime candidate for the president's line item veto.
Opponents feel differently.
The chemical safety board could have completed the investigation quicker and better. A line-item veto of the funding for the safety board would be a disaster.