Capito Responds To President's Executive Order For Government-Wide Review Of Rules And Regulations

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R.W.Va., responds to President Obama's announcement that he will sign an executive order requiring a government-wide review of rules and regulations.

Last week, Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue declared in his annual State of American Business address that excessive regulation and "the resulting regulatory tsunami poses, in our view, the single biggest challenge to jobs, our global competitiveness, and the future of American enterprise."

"Republicans have been saying for years that our nation's regulatory framework--from environmental protection to financial markets--is too complicated, redundant and often ineffective. Simply putting more laws on the books does not in itself protect consumers or our nation," stated Capito.

While Capito appreciates the President's motion to make regulatory reform a priority, she notes that his Administration has used broadly interpreted regulatory power to advance its agenda and signed two laws--the Healthcare Law and the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Law--that create hundreds of new rules, regulations, panels and councils. Businesses small and large have spoken out about the cost of complying with these new rules, and many have withheld capital while waiting to see how and when the new agencies and bureaus apply their new authority.

"The American people want smaller government, not bigger government. They're tired of the rapidly expanding size of bureaucracy and our out-of-control spending which stifles job creation by placing serious burdens on our nation's job creators. I am encouraged by this important first step, but make no mistake, I expect some serious changes to result from this government-wide review," Capito remarked.

The President's executive order comes days after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used broadly interpreted regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act to revoke a previously issued mining permit for the Spruce No.1 Mine in West Virginia.

"I certainly think the EPA and the Administration are using their regulatory authority to advance an anti-coal agenda. It's somewhat ironic that the President wants to "clean up' the rules and regulations on the books while simultaneously using them to exert his authority," concluded Capito.

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