Reg Watch Fact of the Day:

President Obama’s Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy Dr. Jan Eberly, officially blogged that no evidence supports the idea that uncertainty over regulation hinders job growth.  Check out what Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus has to say about the regulatory environment in America today.

Regulations by the Numbers for 2011:

286 Days:      Since Obama’s Executive Order on Regulations
 112 Days:      Since Obama’s Executive Order on Regulations for                           Independent Agencies
1 Rule:           Repealed this year – spilled milk not considered an oil spill
508 Rules:      Regulations deemed significant under Executive Order 12866
$84.8B:          Cost of regulatory burdens from new rules for the year
67,036 Pages: Pages of regulations in the Federal Register so far this year 88.2 Million:   Hours of annual paperwork burden

REG’S IN THE NEWS:

Bloomberg: Volcker Rule Costs Banks $1 Billion, U.S. Government Says, (Friday, October 28, 2011)
Under Dodd-Frank, 152 national banks may have a combined maximum investment in funds of $18.3 billion, according to the 14-page OCC analysis. The OCC estimated the cost of capital would be 5 percent, or a maximum overall cost of $917 million.

Politico: House Repeals Contractor Withholding, (October 27, 2011)
The House easily passed legislation Thursday aimed at easing regulations for businesses – a rare point of agreement between congressional Republicans and the Obama administration. On a 405-16 vote, the House approved repealing a rule that requires governments to withhold 3 percent of their payments to contracting businesses.

Politico: Regulations top issue for small businesses, (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)
As the White House and Republicans battle over regulations, a new poll finds that small-business owners rank “complying with government regulations” as the most important problem that they face. Indeed, 41 percent of small business owners said that government was somehow related to the biggest problem facing their companies, says a Monday Gallup poll.

Big Government: Opposition to New EPA Air Regulations Continues to Grow Across Interest Groups, (Monday, October 24, 2011)
As the opposition to CSPAR (Cross-state Air Pollution Regulations) spreads across state lines and various groups, there have been over 30 lawsuits filed to challenge the rule.
 

HOUSE GOP SOLUTIONS TO JOB-KILLING REGULATIONS:

Rep. Latta (OH) introduces legislation to exempt existing stationary engines from two final rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (H.R. 3185)

The EPA bends to pressure from Rep. Crawford (AR) and House Republicans on the spill containment rule for America’s farmers and ranchers (H.R. 3158)

Rep. Young (AK) introduces the STRIP Act of 2011 to repeal all unjustified regulations enacted in the past 20 years (H.R. 3181)

Rep. Calvert (CA) introduces the Reducing Environmental Barriers to Unified Infrastructure and Land Development (REBUILD) Act (H.R. 2538)
 

CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT ACTION:

No current action.  Please contact Casey Hogan in Congressman Carter’s office if there is possible CRA Action that should be highlighted.

Contacts:
Casey Hogan – Regulations Legislative Assistant
John Stone – Communications
(202) 225-3864  |