Watch For The Spin As This Idea Moves Forward

The Hill posted an article yesterday about the Republican plan to roll back and limit new federal regulations that are slowing job growth and causing people to lose their jobs.

For example, The Hill reported on June 9 of this year that American Electric Power said that it will shut down five coal-fired power plants and spend billions of dollars to comply with a series of pending Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.  The costs of complying with the regulations will result in an increase in electricity prices of 10 to 35 percent and cost 600 jobs, AEP said.  Maybe this would be a good time to put some EPA regulations on hold until the job situation improves.  These are pending regulations, but as far as I know, they are continuing forward.

The article in The HIll yesterday reported:

“The GOP will make a major push this fall for the REINS Act, which would require all major regulations to get a vote in Congress. Also on the short list is a bill sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and reported out of the Energy and Commerce Committee in July that requires more extensive cost-benefit analysis on regulations. Finally, there are dozens of policy riders in the appropriations bills that will target burdensome regulations.”

For whatever reason, Democrats like regulations.  Some of the push-back so far:

“(The Economic Policy Institute’s Isaac) Shapiro said that EPI studies show negligible costs to the economy from Obama’s regulations but massive benefits. One study found all the major implemented environmental regulations costing only $12 billion.

“He said the focus on regulations “is being used as a cover for the lack of any pro-jobs agenda coming out of conservative circles.” He said the 2007-8 financial crisis shows that more regulations are needed in finance and housing and said the BP oil spill in the Gulf shows the damage that can result to the economy from weak environmental regulations.

“”I think it would be very unfortunate if they would choose to shut down the government over environmental regulations,” he added.”

The issue will come to a head in September when the REINS ACT comes to the floor of the House.

This is the summary of the REINS ACT from Thomas.gov:

Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011 or the REINS Act – Rewrites provisions regarding congressional review of agency rulemaking to require congressional approval of major rules of the executive branch before they may take effect (currently, major rules take effect unless Congress passes and the President signs a joint resolution disapproving them). Defines “major rule” as any rule, including an interim final rule, that has resulted in or is likely to result in: (1) an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (2) a major increase in costs or prices; or (3) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or U.S. competitiveness.

Provides that if a joint resolution of approval of a major rule is not enacted by the end of 70 session days or legislative days after the agency proposing the rule submits its report on such rule to Congress, the rule shall be deemed not to be approved and shall not take effect. Permits a major rule to take effect for 90 calendar days without such approval if the President determines such rule is necessary because of an imminent threat to health or safety or other emergency, for the enforcement of criminal laws, for national security, or to implement an international trade agreement.

Sets forth House and Senate procedures for joint resolutions approving major rules and disapproving non-major rules.

Things to note about the fight to pass the REINS ACT:

Unions and consumer groups are outraged over the REINS Act and have been lobbying against it

Office of Management and Budget spokesperson Meg O’Reilly said the statistics are inaccurate since they look at hundreds of proposed regulations that might never see the light of day.  (That is pure spin.)

Isaac Shapiro has stated that the benefits of regulations the House of Representatives are trying to rein in are increased working hours due to better employee health.  (More spin.)

The article posted by The Hill on Saturday reports:

“Democrat aides are worried that the push on the appropriations policy riders, especially in the bill funding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), could lead to a government shutdown crisis at the end of September. That bill is listed by Cantor’s office as a tool for regulatory reform.”

If our nation is to survive, we are going to have to pry power out of Washington, D. C., one fight at a time.  They are going to be nasty fights with a lot of things said that are not true.  It is the reponsibility of all voters to say informed and do their own research.  Good luck!