LaMalfa bill may require approval for regs

The north state's Rep. Doug LaMalfa says he is considering introducing a bill that would require congressional approval for all major regulations.

He made this suggestion in light of today's mixed news on the economy, which included another rise in the national unemployment rate.

From the congressman:

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today commented on the release of two key economic indicators, both of which showed continued weakness in the US economy. The January unemployment report found that national unemployment had increased to 7.9%, while the national economy shrank for the first time in three years, by 0.1%.

“It’s clear that while families are struggling, government is the only segment of the economy the President’s policies are helping,” said LaMalfa. “While Congress passed just 87 laws in 2011, the administration enacted over 3,800 new regulations, many without public input. In just the past month the President’s administration has introduced 5,706 pages of costly new regulations. That’s why I’m cosponsoring legislation requiring Congressional approval of all major regulations, putting the brakes on job-killing red tape created by unaccountable bureaucrats.”

“It’s no wonder that the economy shrank when Washington spent the entire month of December arguing over how much more of Americans’ paychecks to take,” LaMalfa added. “Washington needs to let the American people succeed by getting out of the way and not continually pushing the failed policies of the past. Tax, spend, and over-regulate policies will only drive us further in debt and hamper any chance at a real economic recovery.”