The House voted Friday to make a new push to rein in federal rules and regulations that can be a burden on local governments and cost them millions.
The House voted 230-168 to amend the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, which required agencies to try to limit the cost of federal rules on local governments and companies. Republicans, however, argued that the program needed to be updated.
The new legislation, introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., would close a loophole from the 1995 law, requiring scrutiny for all major rules. The law currently says closer scrutiny of regulations is only required when those regulations are launched with a notice of proposed rule-making.
The bill would also apply the law to all independent federal agencies.
Foxx has introduced the bill many times in recent years and argues the change is needed to help local government avoid being ensnared by federal regulations.
“Every year, Washington imposes thousands of rules on local governments and small businesses,” Foxx said last year when she introduced the bill. “Hidden in those rules are costly mandates that stretch state and city budgets and make it harder for businesses to hire.”
The bill is unlikely to pass the Senate given its partisan nature. It passed out of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in March on a party-line vote.
