Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

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Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the growing burdens placed on states by our Federal Government in recent years and how we can stop this trend.

Our States have faced many Federal mandates in recent years that have hurt, not helped, the citizenry of our country. In 2009 alone, the Federal Government issued over 3,300 new rules and regulations. This puts the total number of Federal rules and regulations placed on our States and citizens at around 75,000 as of 2010. In addition, incredible price tags have been placed on our citizens due to these laws and regulations. Our country is facing trillions of dollars in debt and forcing further expenses onto our taxpayers is inexcusable.

This Federal top-down approach does not encourage a strong economy. States and local governments should have the ability to address the needs of their citizens in ways that actually fix the problem without their hands being tied by burdensome Federal rules, regulations, and laws. I have always believed that the ingenuity of individuals should not be hampered and top-down approaches do just that. As of now, states have one recourse, go through the court system which is already backlogged.

No matter who has the political power within our Federal Government, States need to have the ability to force the Federal Government to reconsider laws and regulations that do not support them. Providing states with the option of repealing any Federal law or regulation is the next step. Allowing a repeal option would also institute a check against egregious congressional actions and especially un-elected bureaucratic action.

Today, I am introducing the Repeal Amendment to address this issue. My colleague Representative Rob Bishop of Utah is introducing this important piece of legislation in the House of Representatives so that we can give the states a real voice. Allowing States the option to say no will allow them the breathing room to decide what policies are best for them.

The Repeal Amendment would allow States to remove unnecessary and burdensome Federal laws and regulations. When 2/3 of the States collectively find a Federal law or regulation so out of touch and destructive, they will have the power to repeal it if they so choose.

States must be given back their role as an equal partner in addressing the needs and issues of the people of the United States. The growing Federal Government must be put in check and I believe that the Repeal Amendment will do just that.

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