Georgia rep’s bill could be among first taken up in 2017

WASHINGTON — After years of seeing their policy proposals stonewalled by President Barack Obama, congressional Republicans are looking to make quick work of recycling old legislation that could have new life once Donald Trump becomes the chief executive.

At the top of the GOP’s list are proposals that would put checks on executive rule making. Republicans say Obama abused the tool to make end runs around Congress on issues such as immigration and the environment.

With that in mind, one of the first items on the House of Representatives’ agenda in January is a bill being shepherded by Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Collins of Gainesville that would require Congress’ stamp of approval on any regulation with an economic impact of at least $100 million.

“Last year saw the implementation of 76 major rules with a cumulative economic effect of billions of dollars, so it’s easy to grasp that our country

needs to rein in rogue federal rule making now more than ever,” Collins said in a statement.

The proposal, known as the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (or REINS) Act, isn’t a new one.

The House has passed it three times since the GOP took over in 2011, but it’s never seen a vote in the Senate in the face of veto threats from Obama.

The outgoing president previously said the bill would “increase business uncertainty, undermine muchneeded protections of the American public, and create unnecessary confusion.”

The House is expected to quickly pass the REINS Act when it comes up in the new year, but getting it passed in the Senate won’t be easy. Democrats still have enough votes to filibuster legislation, and with a busy agenda approving Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees and dissembling Obamacare on the horizon, floor time will be in high demand in the upper chamber come January.

Still, Republican leaders are hopeful they’ll be able to persuade red-state Democrats who are up for re-election in 2018 to vote for GOP-authored legislation such as this one.

The House is also expected to take up another bill related to last-minute federal regulations shortly after it reconvenes Jan. 3.

CONTRIBUTED Congressman Doug Collins hopes that Congress will pass a bill that requires approval on any regulation with an economic impact of at least $100 million.