McConnell-Inhofe Amendment Would Protect all Job Creators From EPA Overreach

Statement

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding the McConnell-Inhofe Amendment to job-destroying EPA regulations:

"Later today, the Senate will vote on an amendment that one leading newspaper described last week as one of the best proposals for growth and job creation to make it onto the Senate docket in years.

"More specifically, this amendment, which is based on legislation proposed by Senator Inhofe, would prevent unelected bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing a new national energy tax on American job creators.

"Everyone knows that this attempt to handcuff American businesses with new costs and regulations is the last thing these job-creators need right now.

"That's why even Democrats in Congress have sought to secure the same kind of exemptions from the law for favored industries in their own states that we saw others from their party trying to secure for favored constituencies in the health care law.

"Democrats from auto states tried to have the auto industry exempted. And Democrats from farming states tried to have farmers exempted.

"What these efforts show, is that Democrats themselves recognize the dangers of these EPA regulations. Yet instead of just voting for the one amendment that solves the problem, they're hiding behind sham amendments designed to give them political cover.

"Well, Republicans have a better idea -- let's try to make sure everybody is exempted. Let's not pick winners and losers. Let's let America's small businesses and entrepreneurs compete and grow on a level playing field without any more burdensome government regulations, costs, or red tape.

"The McConnell Amendment would do that.

"The McConnell Amendment would give businesses the certainty that no unelected bureaucrat at the EPA is going to make their efforts to create jobs even more difficult than the administration already has.

"So once again, I want to thank Senator Inhofe for his strong leadership on this issue.

"He's led the way in protecting American jobs from this burdensome proposal with determination and common sense. He deserves the credit.

"And I also want to thank Chairman Upton and my good friend, Congressman Whitfield, for fighting against this effort by the EPA and moving legislation to prevent it in the House."

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