Bartlet Sarcastically Shreds Unfunded Mandates Gripes, Orders Total Cost Probe
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Bartlet dismisses complaints about unfunded mandates, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act, with sharp sarcasm and orders further investigation into the costs of covering all unfunded mandates.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Irritated sarcasm veiling resolute pragmatism
Leads the meeting from his desk, reading the topic aloud, dismisses grumbles with sarcasm on wheelchair logistics, probes costs of federal fixes, and decisively orders a comprehensive audit while instructing to silence the chief complainer, asserting command over the room.
- • Cut short unproductive complaints
- • Launch factual probe into mandate costs for informed reform
- • Whining without data wastes time
- • True leadership demands full accountability on fiscal burdens
Calmly professional amid tension
Concise defines unfunded mandates as federal impositions without funding, facilitates smooth transition by asking 'Anything else?' after Bartlet's order, then shuts door behind departing advisors, maintaining meeting protocol.
- • Provide clear briefing to President
- • Ensure meeting concludes efficiently
- • Precise definitions enable decisive action
- • Protocol keeps crises manageable
Frustrated yet yielding to authority
Gathered as advisors in the meeting; one cites Frank Siegel's specific data on Danville's ADA staff hours and costs, estimates tens-of-billions for federal coverage, and collectively thanks President before exiting at Leo's cue.
- • Highlight locality burdens to prompt federal response
- • Secure presidential acknowledgment of issue
- • Unfunded mandates unfairly crush local resources
- • Data from real cases like Danville proves the scale
Implied indignation via proxy
Invoked by name by advisor as key source behind Danville complaint data on ADA costs, positioned as vocal critic of federal unfunded mandates whom Bartlet directly rebukes to 'sit down and shut up'.
- • Expose unfair mandate impacts
- • Pressure for federal reimbursement
- • Federal policies dump costs on localities
- • Local data demands national reckoning
resigned
Working at his desk, responds to Bartlet's visit, receives impromptu history lesson.
- • Complete his assignment on history dates
Cites Frank Siegel's data on Danville, Virginia's ADA compliance costs and responds to Bartlet's questions.
- • Relay local government complaints about ADA unfunded mandate costs to the President
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Cited as poignant emblem of mandate misery—a Virginia town of 55,000 hemorrhaging hours and dollars on ADA ramps—forcing Bartlet's sarcastic visualization and fueling his audit pivot, humanizing abstract fiscal warfare.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Scrutinized as culprit forcing unfunded mandates like ADA on cash-strapped towns such as Danville, sparking Bartlet's cost-probing order for billions-scale audit—exposing policy friction where national edicts bleed local budgets dry.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Barney's personal wheelchair request leads to Bartlet's reflection on red tape and personal intervention."
"Barney's personal wheelchair request leads to Bartlet's reflection on red tape and personal intervention."
"The initial mad cow disease warning escalates to Leo painting the full economic catastrophe scenario for Bartlet."
Key Dialogue
"BARTLET: "Don't give me their grumbles.""
"MAN: "According to Frank Siegel, Danville, Virginia with a population of 55,000 spent 13,800 staff hours and $176,000 complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.""
"BARTLET: "Are employees in wheelchairs supposed to work in the parking lot?""
"BARTLET: "Let's find out for sure then tell Siegel to sit down and shut up.""