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m <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />RUDY BI3SCHW)lrz <br />MtNNESOTA <br /> <br />WASHINGTON. D.C. 20510 <br /> <br />CO N';.M I'TT EE A$SIGNI~EN'r~ <br />AGRICULTURE <br /> BUDGET <br /> FOREIGN RELATIONS <br /> SMALL BUSINESS <br /> VETERANS AFFAIRS <br /> <br />Hon. Thomas Gamec <br />Mayor of Ramsey <br />15153 Nowthen Blvd. N.W. <br />Anoka, Minnesota 55303 <br /> <br />Dear Mayor Gamec: <br /> <br />July 22, 1983 <br /> <br /> The current authorization for General Revenue Sharing <br />($4.6 billion annually) expires on September 30. Because cf the <br />intense.interest in the subject on the part of local governments, <br />I felt that this update might be helpful to you. <br /> <br /> The prospects.for the continuation of Revenue Sharing are <br />very good, and I will enthusiastically support the efforts to do <br />that. It is an extremely efficient program, costing less than <br />one-tenth of one percent to administer. I also believe the <br />federal government to be an efficient tax collector, and I fully <br />support the Revenue Sharing philosophy of returning a portion of <br />the money collected to the levels of government closest to the <br />people. <br /> <br />m <br />m <br />m <br /> <br /> The Senate Finance Committee has recently completed work on <br />a bill -- of which I am a cosponsor -- to reauthorize Revenue <br />Sharing for three years at its current level of $4.6 billion. <br />The bill remains at $4.6 billion, but any increases in the author- <br />ized amount would be allocated according to a revised formula <br />that would primarily benefit disadvantaged jurisdictions. A <br />"hold harmless" provision would prevent any jurisdiction from <br />receiving less than it currently receives. The bill pending in <br />the House of Representatives contains no formula changes. <br /> <br />m <br />m <br />m <br />m <br />m <br />m <br /> <br /> Although the Senate bill is now cleared to go to the full <br />Senate for consideration, the House bill must first be considered <br />by the House Rules Committee; their hearings are scheduled for <br />the week of July 25. <br /> <br /> Once both bills have been passed by their respective houses, <br />they will go to a Conference Committee (comprised of House and <br />Senate representatives) to iron out any differences. <br /> <br /> I might also add that the President's desire to fold Revenue <br />Sharing into a block grant along with the Community Development <br />Block Grant (CDBG) program no long appears to be an issue. There <br />was simply too much opposition to it. <br /> <br /> I was an early cosponsor this year of legislation to <br />reauthorize Revenue Sharing. I remain an outspoken advocate of <br />the program as an exceptionally efficient method of spending <br /> <br /> <br />