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OLSON VOTES TO LIMIT GOVERNMENT ABUSE

2/27/14

Washington, DC - Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) today voted to halt or drastically limit the wave of overreaching regulations coming from the White House that threaten our nation’s economic growth. The Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency (ALERRT) Act, H.R. 2804, is a comprehensive package of four bills requiring federal agencies to report the cost-benefit analysis of their proposed regulations. This package requires agencies scrutinize their new rules to find cost-effective alternatives and brings more transparency to the rule-making process. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 236-179.

“The Obama Administration continues to hit Texans and Americans with new rules that spike everyday costs, lower worker wages and reduce job opportunities," Rep. Olson said. “These federal rules cost taxpayers trillions and strangle small businesses, which prevents them from expanding and creating jobs. Today we voted to stop the government chokehold on American businesses and save taxpayers money. This bill brings accountability to the rule-making process, ensuring taxpayer resources are used wisely. Easing the regulatory burden on businesses helps to create jobs and raise wages, and we took a stand today to stop the government overreach that plagues America.”

Federal Regulatory Burden:

- The total federal regulatory burden now reaches up to an estimated $1.86 trillion, or roughly $15,000 per year for each US household.
- The Obama Administration alone added at least $488 billion in new regulatory costs between 2009 and 2012.
- A recent study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development revealed that, after measuring countries by the number of regulations they have, “it’s now easier to start a business in Slovenia, Estonia and Hungary than in America.”

H.R. 2804 Package:

- H.R. 2804 - ALERRT Act: Requires agencies to provide more timely and detailed information regarding proposed regulations, and prevents new rules from taking effect if they fail to do so.
- H.R. 2122 - Regulatory Accountability Act: Requires agencies to undertake a thorough cost-benefit analysis of proposed rules and choose the lowest cost alternative, and improves agency transparency and fact finding. 
- H.R. 1493 - Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees & Settlements Act: Prevents government agencies and interest groups from circumventing the regulatory review process via “sue and settle” decrees that force agencies to impose new burdens on job creators without allowing those affected the opportunity to participate in the litigation process.
- H.R. 2542 - Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act: Helps minimize the economic impact of new regulations on small businesses, and closes loopholes used by federal agencies to skirt compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

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Media Contact: Melissa Kelly

202-225-5951