Isakson Co-Sponsors Legislation to Restrict Unelected Bureaucrats at Federal Agencies from Imposing Overly Burdensome, Costly Regulations

Press Release

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., this week cosponsored legislation to require more accountability and oversight from the Executive Branch and federal agencies and to prevent them from unilaterally imposing burdensome, costly regulations on America's families, businesses and local governments.

Isakson said the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011, also known as the REINS Act, would impose tough restrictions on the unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies who write the rules and regulations needed to carry out new laws passed by Congress. Under the REINS Act, Congress would be required to affirmatively approve every new major rule proposed by the Executive Branch before it could be implemented. The bill defines a major rule as one having an economic impact of $100 million or more.

"This legislation would go a long way toward reining in the unelected bureaucrats in federal agencies who now are able to freely write rules and regulations that can have devastating economic consequences," said Isakson. "Congress should be required to 'check' regulatory agencies and the executive branch from imposing such costly, job-killing, overly burdensome regulations on America's families, businesses and local governments."

The REINS Act, S.299, was introduced by Sen. Paul (R-Ky.) and is cosponsored by Republican Senators Jim DeMint (S.C.), John Ensign (Nev.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Tom Coburn (Okla.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), John Thune (S.D.), Mike Enzi (Wyo.), John Cornyn (Texas), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Saxby Chambliss (Ga.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), John Barrasso (Wyo.), Roger Wicker (Miss.), Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Mike Johanns (Neb.), John Boozman (Ark.), David Vitter (La.), Mike Lee (Utah), James Inhofe (Okla.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), and Marco Rubio (Fla.).

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