Dear Concerned American, You Are Not Alone

It has been a lonely few months for those of us who believe government ought to help protect the air we breathe, water we drink, food we eat, and products we buy. Opponents of regulation, especially in Congress, have been accusing regulations of being “job-killers” and creating uncertainty (though they never explain how). It can sometimes feel as though we’re outnumbered, outflanked, and outgunned. While the latter two may remain true, the first is certainly not. Two new polls prove that the vast majority of Americans support common sense health and safety standards.

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Broad Opposition to Anti-Regulatory Bill

On Friday, 72 labor, environmental, consumer advocacy, health care, and other public interest organizations (including OMB Watch) wrote to the House Judiciary Committee urging its members to oppose H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act. The bill, which we’ve been covering extensively on this blog in recent weeks, would require congressional approval of all major rules before government agencies can implement them.

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242 Lawmakers Vote Against Safe Food, Water, and Children’s Toys

242 members of the House of Representatives don't give a damn if your food is uncontaminated, your water is clean, or your children are safe. Don’t believe me? Then you should have been watching C-SPAN last week.

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Anti-Government Senator Introduces REINS Act

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act yesterday in the Senate. The bill, which would require Congressional approval of all major regulations, has already been introduced in the House and is expected to be a top priority for House leadership.

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House Republicans’ Rule Inventory is Misguided

House Republicans are willing to take on a pretty big chore in their quest to demonize regulations. The House Rules Committee will consider on Tuesday a resolution that would require most of the major House committees to review and evaluate all regulations written under the laws in their respective jurisdictions.

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The REINS Act -- What a Mess

Continuing our look at how H.R. 10, the REINS Act, would screw up the regulatory process by subjecting all major rules to a vote in Congress before they become effective, we will today look at an example that shows how REINS could cause great uncertainty for businesses (and everyone else).

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REINS Would Delay Even Life-Saving Rules with Broad Support

This week, I'll be providing examples of past regulations that would have fallen under H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS), a bill expected to move quickly through the House this year. The REINS Act would require Congressional approval for all major rules – a terrible move that could delay or kill new environmental, health, and safety protections.

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Will State of the Union Mark Tonal Shift for Obama on Regulation?

What a difference a week makes. Last Tuesday, Jan. 18, President Obama took to the pages of The Wall Street Journal to complain about federal regulation, adopting the conservative mantra that regulation is largely a nuisance and can impair job growth. Last night, in his Jan. 25 State of the Union address, Obama took a decidedly different tone. He began by implying that regulations are nothing but a hindrance to businesses. But just as quickly as my blood began to boil, it came down to a simmer. Obama followed by recommitting himself to the importance of public protections, citing consumer, labor, and environmental regulations as critical governmental contributions to society.

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After 222 Years, Turns Out the Constitution is Deficient

During a hearing debating the merits of H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, majority witness and former Congressman David McIntosh, discussing the REINS Act’s goal of sending regulations that implement law back through Congress, commented, “…and so in many ways what the bill does is correct a constitutional deficiency.”

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House to Make Anti-Regulatory Bill an Early Priority

Rep. Geoff Davis has introduced a bill that would require Congressional approval of all major rules, a potentially fatal blow to some of the most important safeguards to our health, safety, environment, and economy.

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