Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 07, 2011

CONTACT: Apryl Marie Fogel, 202-225-2315

Gosar: “Reining In the Bureaucrats”

Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-01) voted tonight to support H.R. 10, the REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny).  The Congressman had the following statement regarding his vote:

“I am pleased to have co-sponsored and voted for this important piece of legislation.  Over time Congress has ceded its Constitutional powers to the Executive branch.  This important piece of legislation helps bring back the checks and balances that are critical to our nation’s success.” 

“Moving forward, Congress needs to reassert itself as the peoples’ voice, override the job killing bureaucrats, and implement a whole-scale repeal of unnecessary and wasteful regulations.  This legislation is an important step in reclaiming that responsibility.”

The “REINS Act of 2011” rewrites provisions regarding Congressional review of agency rule-making to require congressional approval of major rules of the executive branch before they may take effect.  Currently, major rules take effect unless Congress passes and the President signs a joint resolution disapproving them. 

It defines “major rule” as any rule including an interim final rule that has resulted in or is likely to result in one of the following: an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or U.S. competitiveness.  It also provides that if a joint resolution of approval of a major rule is not enacted by the end of 70 session days or legislative days after the agency proposing the rule submits its report on such rule to Congress, the rule shall be deemed not to be approved and shall not take effect. 

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