september 30, 2015
Government has grown too fast and too big
Federal regulations outpace new laws originating in Congress at an astounding rate of 15 to one
WASHINGTON, DC – "The Obama Administration has broken all records for establishing federal regulations. Since the president took office his rule makers have unleashed more than ten a day. In less than six years, a total of more than 21,000 regulations have been created, many of which have had the effect of hampering job creation, the economy and the ability of ordinary citizens to keep pace with the rising costs of the new rules," according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens.
Weber noted that regulations governing such things as the operations of public transportation and financial markets, the sale of pharmaceuticals, workplace safety, drinking water, etc. have a practical role to play in our society. But, he added, "when the government uses its regulatory authority to further social goals, such as the administration's green energy agenda, without so much as a debate on the issues and a Congressional vote, it is downright wrong-headed. Not to mention the costs it imposes on American households."
The Competitive Enterprise Institute estimates that last year the cost of complying with federal regulations amounted to about $15,000 for the average U.S. household.
"The Environmental Protection Agency would decimate the nation's coal industry with new regulations including a restrictive carbon emission rule, despite the fact that technology exists to allow for the clean use of cheap coal to generate electricity at reasonable costs. And, despite the fact that the government's war on coal is bound to have an extremely burdensome impact on us all, but mainly on seniors who simply cannot afford the predicted spikes in the price of electricity that even the president, himself, has predicted," Weber said.
He said he is concerned that older Americans, particularly those on fixed income, will have to make a choice between keeping warm in winter and cool in summer or putting food on their tables. But, he added, "it won't be much of a choice because of the EPA's new water rules that allow the agency to regulate mud holes on farms and ranches are likely to have an impact on food prices"
The EPA has redefined the 1972 Clean Water Act to include standing rain water. Farmers and ranchers, therefore, are required to go through complicated and costly procedures to comply with the law as redefined by the agency. Lawsuits to block the rule have been filed in a variety of venues across the nation and one federal judge in North Carolina has already ruled that the regulation is unfair. But, the EPA said it will ignore such decisions and move ahead with enforcement of the regulation.
There is bi-partisan outrage in Congress over the EPA's "brazen" overreach, Weber said. He cited a recent Opinion Article signed by Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D. and Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. challenging the EPA.
"Their message didn't go far enough, but it is a sign that our lawmakers may be waking up to the fact that government has grown too fast and too big for its britches in recent years." Weber hoped that "it is for real this time and not just a political ploy. The agency needs to be brought to task. It cannot just create virtual laws, although it is a fact that government regulations outpace new laws originating in Congress at an astounding rate of 15 to one. The people who write these regulations are hired hands. They are supposed to be working for us, not against us."
