U.S. Rep. Diane Black

In September, the National Association of Manufacturers released a study that found that U.S. businesses spent more than $2 trillion in 2012 just to comply with federal regulations. It’s no small wonder that the same study found that 88 percent of manufacturers believe regulatory compliance is one of their top challenges as a business.

We all want to have clean air, safe food and safe water; but when regulations become very expensive and do not show a significant benefit, that should give cause for concern. The growth of federal regulations has exploded under the Obama administration. According to research done by the Heritage Foundation, in the first five years of the Obama presidency, 157 new major rules were issued at a cost to the economy of almost $73 billion per year.

Making these rules and regulations all the more concerning is that they are administered at the executive level, with little input from members of Congress who are listening closely to the concerns of their constituents. And while President Obama has paid lip service to the idea of cutting red tape to promote economic growth, a recent report from the American Action Forum found that “recent regulatory reform plans from the administration actually added more than $23 billion in costs and 8.9 million paperwork burden hours” this year alone.

Despite this, the administration continues to push forward with rules and regulations that will have dire consequences for our economy. For instance, last June the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled 645 pages of burdensome rules on carbon emissions as part of President Obama’s plan to push global warming — not jobs and the economy — to the forefront of his agenda. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, this could cost as many as 224,000 American jobs per year all the way through 2030. This is not good for Tennesseans looking for work, and a proposal of this scale should have significant input from those of us representing our constituents in Congress.

For this reason, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed a bill that would directly address the growing bureaucratic red tape that is hampering our businesses and our economy.

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (or REINS Act), simply says that any government rule or regulation from the executive branch — including agencies like the IRS and EPA — with an economic impact of $100 million or more would have to go through Congress for an up-or-down vote first before it can be imposed on the American people.

We know that this bill would save taxpayer dollars and streamline government. That is why the bill passed with bipartisan support. Despite that, this bill remains one of 387 House-passed bills stuck in the Democratic-led Senate.

Getting serious about streamlining government and reducing red tape is just another reason why it is so important that Republicans take the majority in the Senate next year. Common-sense proposals like the REINS Act deserve consideration before the Senate so that they can be sent to the president’s desk. If President Obama wants to veto legislation supported by members of his own party, he should be given the opportunity.

Diane Black, R-Gallatin, represents Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District.