10.23.15

Senate GOP seeks to rein in Obama on regs

Senate Republicans are rolling out a new way to clarify what regulation authority a law gives to federal agencies, suggesting it could help curb incorrect interpretations by the Obama administration. 

Republican Sens. Mike Enzi (Wyo.), Mike Crapo (Idaho), Kelly Ayotte (N.H.) and Steve Daines (Mont.) have introduced legislation that would allow lawmakers to pass concurrent resolutions to explain the meaning of a law and what authority it gives to federal agencies.

According to the bill, federal agencies wouldn't be able to issue a rule or regulation that contradicts with the guidance from lawmakers and would need to change any current conflicting regulations. 
 
Congress can currently pass legislation on regulations or rules it disagrees with, but any attempt to curb the administration faces a veto threat from President Obama. Concurrent resolutions, however, would allow them to bypass Obama because they don't have to be signed by the president. 
 
Speaking from the Senate floor Thursday, Enzi suggested that lawmakers and Americans must understand "the true cost" of regulations being issued by the Obama administration. 
 
"Shining a light on these regulations and the burden they impose on each and every American is the only way to hold government accountable and to begin the process of reining in out-of-control agencies so we can halt the flood of regulations choking our economy," he added. 
 
The legislation is the latest sign of concern from Senate Republicans on overregulation by the Obama administration. Separately on Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said senators will try to challenge a new climate rule from the administration. 
 
Enzi's office noted that while the concurrent resolutions would help counter "out-of-control executive agencies" that have "incorrectly" interpreted laws, they wouldn't be able to roll back regulation authority that is "explicitly granted" or establish new authority that wasn't included in the original law. 

By:  Jordain Carney
Source: The Hill