Congress Working Swiftly To Roll Back Obama Regulations

Date: January 18, 2017

Efforts Come As Study Finds Obama, Congress Did Little Legislating Since 2008

The Washington Post reports House Republicans “are pushing full speed ahead” to roll back Obama-era regulations, a shift that “has garnered almost unheard-of unanimity among fractious House Republicans and heralds sweeping changes to federal labor, environmental and financial oversight as the GOP takes control of Washington.” While the House “has already passed several sweeping bills,” next month it is “expected to take up more targeted measures that would use fast-track procedures to undo several recent rules issued by executive-branch agencies.” Among the regulations on the Republican chopping block are “new Interior Department rules aimed at protecting waterways near coal mines and preventing the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from oil and gas wells, as well as a Labor Department rule that expands overtime eligibility.” The article adds that Trump could not have found a “more enthusiastic partner” than Vice President-elect Mike Pence to push the regulatory changes.

News of Congress and the incoming White House’s efforts to repeal Obama Administration regulations comes as the Washington Times reports that according to its “Legislative Index,” President Obama “oversaw the deepest legislative malaise in modern political history.” During his eight years in office, Obama “has signed just 1,227 bills into law — less, even, than one-term Presidents Carter and George H.W. Bush.” Moreover, the index shows that “Congress spent less time in session, handled less business on the chamber floors and generally sputtered for much of Mr. Obama’s tenure.” According to the Times, responsibility “for the poor showing falls across Washington.” While some analysts “say a Congress with four years of divided control hamstrung Mr. Obama,” others say Obama “failed to find ways to work with the legislature that voters gave him — particularly after the 2010 elections.”

What This Means For Small Businesses

Washington efforts to address the chronic problem of burdensome over-regulation are welcome relief for small business owners, who have borne the brunt of costs associated with increasing government red tape during the Obama Administration.

Additional Reading

Forbes previously noted the excessive regulatory agenda of the Obama Administration in 2016.

Note: this article is intended to keep small business owners up on the latest news. It does not necessarily represent the policy stances of NFIB.

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