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U.S. Representative Massie Votes to Pass REINS Act

For Immediate Release  
Friday Aug 2, 2013      
 

U.S. Representative Massie Votes to Pass REINS Act

“It is vital that Congress act to reduce our regulatory burden which raises consumer prices, reduces wages, and costs jobs”

 – Today, Congressman Massie voted to pass the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. Massie was an original cosponsor of the bill, which would curb unchecked and costly regulations. The House of Representatives passed the bill, 232-183.

“Excessive regulation stifles economic growth, hurts small businesses, and raises consumer prices,” said Rep. Massie. “It is vital that Congress act to reduce our regulatory burden which raises consumer prices, reduces wages, and costs jobs.”

The REINS Act would require Congressional approval for regulation expected to cost the economy more than $50 million, lead to a major increase in consumer prices, or adversely affect employment.

“Congress has delegated its authority to unaccountable federal agencies over the past decades,” added Rep. Massie. “Unelected bureaucrats do not have the constitutional authority to write laws.  Only Congress has this power, and ceding it to federal agencies undermines our representative form of government.”

4th district constituent Lloyd Rogers of Alexandria, Kentucky, now a member of Massie’s congressional staff, first conceived the bill.

Rogers added, “As Campbell County, Kentucky Judge-Executive, I saw local government was being hampered by unconstitutional regulations and mandates from the EPA.  Auto emission checking, sewer mandates, water regulations and a plethora of overreaching rules and mandates.  Art. I Sec. 1 of the U.S. Constitution states…. ‘All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.’ I saw no authority for the EPA to make law, so I felt they needed to be restrained.”

Rep. Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the REINS Act of 2013 with 121 cosponsors.

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