President Obama hasn’t eliminated regulations to boost the economy, as he promised last year, but instead has increased burdens, costs, and rules, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., wrote in a Washington Times op-ed on Tuesday.
The White House announced it would be releasing final plans for streamlining regulations among government agencies and departments on Tuesday. The announcement is the culmination of a review mandated by executive order in January.
Since then, the Obama administration has only repealed one rule despite proposing over 340 new regulations, Barrasso said. Two were finalized in August by the Environmental Protection Agency, including a rule to regulate mileage for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Together, the EPA regulations will cost $10 billion, according to Barrasso.
To counter the “giant wet blanket” Obama has thrown on the economic recovery, Barrasso introduced the Employment Impact Act, which would require lawmakers to consider regulations’ impact on jobs.
“While the president tells Americans that he wants to cut red tape, his administration is still churning it out,” Barrasso said. “America’s job creators should not have to suffer through another summer of Washington’s job-destroying regulations,” he added.
Get the latest news and analysis delivered to your inbox. Sign up for National Journal's morning alert, Wake-Up Call, and afternoon newsletter, The Edge. Subscribe here.
Leave A Comment