Editorial: Mike Responds to AJC on Regulations

Press Release

Several weeks ago, The Gwinnett Daily Post printed and article on my candidacy for Congress in the 10th district of Georgia. The AJC contacted me several days later stating they were investigating the truth of one of my remarks. In the article I state that my trucking business is paying an additional $10,000.00 per truck in one model year due to EPA regulations imposed from the 2010 model year to the 2011 year. After their investigation, the AJC wrote that my claim was mostly true. I wanted to take the opportunity to show that not only is my claim true, but ask how many other businesses have been hurt by federal regulations passed recently. The following is a summary of the regulation and the net effects on the trucking industry alone:

The EPA rules at issue were first published in 1997 with a series of changes to follow in 2004, 2008 and 2011 model years.

2004: Increase in the oil capacity by 50%, decrease in the oil change intervals and a significant decrease in the MPG. The engines required extensive rebuild maintenance at 500,000 miles, at 50% decrease in the average life of the engine.

2008: New rules, and new engines resulted in major failures of the engine itself with little to no miles being driven. In one case, an engine manufacturer was sued by the EPA.

2011: New rules once again caused major changes in the truck engines. Most truck manufacturers are using an additional diesel exhaust fluid to burn off exhaust emissions to meet EPA NOx regulations. This is the additional $10,000.00 per truck in upfront costs, not mention the additional maintenance, and fluid expense.

The EPA estimated the 2011 model change would cost consumers around $2600.00. They missed.

This is one of the reasons I am running for Congress. I am not opposed to clean air and water. I am opposed to an oppressive government that uses the regulatory agencies to impose rules on businesses without a true working knowledge of the cost implications on the impacted industry. Instead of working with an industry to help create better products for the consumer and the environment they impose their will, period.

As I cross the 10th district and talk with people about government intrusion and regulation, I am learning this has occurred in most industries; and it's not just the EPA. It is all federal government regulatory agencies. Our federal government has regulatory agencies run amuck, unchecked, and out of control. Congress needs to scrutinize, and in some cases cut off funding for these agencies. I believe Congress should place sunset provisions on most all regulations, the good ones will survive. This economy will not recover until the private sector begins to create real jobs. The private sector will not create jobs until the federal government creates an atmosphere that encourages job creation. There is too much uncertainty in the business community due to high taxation and overburdened government regulation. The next big regulation about to impact all Americans is the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). If the feds can't get it right in the trucking industry, how do they expect us to trust them with our healthcare.

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