Zinke Votes to End Backdoor Taxes

Statement

Today, Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke voted in favor of H.R. 427, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 or REINS Act. REINS requires that any new major regulation will have to be voted on by Congress and signed by the President. A "major regulation" is defined as any regulation having an economic impact of $100 million or more. A bipartisan majority of the House approved the measure 243-165.

"One of the founding pillars of our nation was "no taxation without representation' and yet, that's exactly what the administration is doing every time they implement a new costly rule or regulation that bypasses Congress. The REINS Act is a critical tool in stopping this backdoor taxing and overreach of the federal government," said Rep. Zinke. "For example, just a few months ago, the EPA released the Waters of the United States regulations which are estimated to cost taxpayers up to $465 million annually, according to the administration's own estimates. Under the REINS Act, the EPA, and all other executive branch agencies, would be required to submit regulations like WOTUS through Congress.

"Unelected Washington bureaucrats who don't know the difference between Butte, Bozeman or Winnett should not be making costly and disastrous rules that negatively impact Butte, Bozeman and Winnett. The REINS Act is an important step in reining in the reach and size of the federal government and finally ending the backdoor taxing that is rampant in Washington."

Federal regulations have cost Montana citizens hundreds of millions of dollars in compliance. The EPA's so-called "Clean Power Plan" is projected to increase electricity costs by over 25%, and the rise in Natural Gas costs will cost Montana consumers an additional $26 million by 2023. Separate EPA regulations introduced in 2012 cost Montana manufacturers $172 million in just compliance. The Obama administration's proposed ozone standards, described as the "most expensive regulation ever imposed on the American public," threatens a $10 billion state product loss for Montana alone.

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