House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) introduced the third plank of the “A Better Way” policy agenda put forth by House Republicans on Tuesday, which targets economic growth.
The plan is comprised of 101 ideas that focus on making fewer and smarter regulations, generating more affordable and reliable energy, creating financial independence and eliminating bailouts, creating more choices for workers and students, creating rules that drive innovation, and cracking down on lawsuit abuse.
“The truth is, we need rules — clear, firm rules that all of us can live by,” Ryan said. “The question is, what’s the best way to write them? To keep our air and water clean, to protect consumers from scams and rip-offs — but also to create jobs and expand opportunity. It does not have to be an either-or. We can have both.”
The third plank of “A Better Way” draws from recommendations made by the Task Force on Reducing Regulatory Burdens.
The task force includes U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee; Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; Rob Bishop (R-UT), the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee; Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Lamar Smith (R-TX), the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee; and Bill Shuster (R-PA), the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The number and cost of regulations has skyrocketed under the Obama administration, Smith said, and that has killed jobs and cost the economy billions of dollars.
“Hardworking families want their leaders in Washington to cut regulatory red tape and put America back on a path to growth and prosperity,” Smith said. “I am pleased the speaker has selected the Science Committee to help lead a task force that will find ways to reduce the burden of costly and unnecessary regulations.”
The EPA and other federal agencies “bend the law and stretch science” to justify their own objectives, Smith said.
“Despite heavy and growing public opposition to these proposals, the Obama administration is actively going around Congress to commit the U.S. to costly new regulations that will do nothing to improve the environment but will negatively impact economic growth,” Smith said. “I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues to implementing our solutions to reduce regulatory burdens on hardworking American families.”
Following the release of the task force’s report, U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said that the $1.9 billion annual burden that regulations cost the country each year is more than the income tax burden and approximately equivalent to half of what the government spent last year.
“Among the many positive solutions in the report is the idea of regulatory budgeting,” Price said. “The House Budget Committee has championed regulatory budgeting both in our budget resolution and as part of our ongoing effort to improve the Congressional budget process. Greater transparency means greater accountability. Giving policymakers tools to account for the cost and to rein in the proliferation of harmful rules and regulations will empower the American people while still ensuring responsible protections for the health of our citizens, our economy, and our environment.”