Congress would have the power to stop some new federal regulations under a GOP plan to curb the regulatory burden they say is dragging down the U.S. economy.
House Republicans on Tuesday will roll out the third plank in a six-part agenda, and this one will focus on growing the economy by reducing regulations.
“Sensible regulations can be compatible with a strong economy and it is the federal government’s responsibility to set firm rules that all Americans can live by,” Republicans declared in an executive summary. “But bad or unnecessary regulations can slow the economy down significantly, and the evidence suggests red tape is holding back the recovery.”
Republicans are particularly eager to slow down the federal government’s efforts to regulate the environment, which the GOP believes is harming domestic energy production and destroying jobs.
One GOP proposal includes imposing “shot clocks” on project permitting, a move that would green light proposals if the federal government is too slow in deciding whether to grant permits.
The GOP plan points to the Bureau of Land Management, which takes an average of 227 days to approve or deny a permit to drill on federal lands even though states take about 33 days.
Republicans also propose giving Congress the authority to nix federal regulations that are deemed to cost the economy more than $100 million annually.
The plan recommends giving each federal agency a monetary limit each year on the amount of regulatory cost it can impose, and would establish an independent commission to review past regulations for outdated rules.
The GOP will unveil three more agenda proposals in June. The remaining policy plans will address taxes, healthcare, and protecting the Constitutional authority of Congress against executive branch overreach.
Read a summary of the GOP’s regulatory plan here:
