Archive for the ‘Federal’ Category

8th District Newsletter – December 6, 2011 – Reducing Regulatory Burdens

This week in Washington, the House passed two new bills which aim to bring accountability to the regulatory process and promote economic growth through the prevention of onerous and ineffective regulations. In addition to the REINS Act, the House has also now sent the Regulatory Accountability Act (H.R. 3010) and the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act (H.R. 527) to the Senate for their consideration.

I am proud to support these important pieces of legislation. Rather than removing existing regulations, we must first ensure that any proposed rules receive proper oversight. As we work to create an environment in which small business can expand and drive our economic recovery, we must place limits on the unprecedented and unsustainable growth of regulations on small businesses being handed down from federal bureaucrats.

H.R. 527, the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 requires agencies to analyze the impact of new regulations will have on small businesses before adopting the regulation just as they must consider how they will affect the environment.

H.R. 3010, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011 updates and reforms the rulemaking process by setting mandatory rulemaking principles, thereby providing greater transparency and accountability to the process.

The number of waivers the Obama administration has awarded for a provision of the year-old healthcare reform law grew by 128 in March.

With the new waivers, that means 1,168 businesses, insurers, unions and other organizations have received one-year exemptions from a healthcare reform provision requiring at least $750,000 in annual benefits.

The administration says the temporary waivers are granted to help stabilize the insurance market until a fuller package of reforms takes effect in 2014, but the growing number of waivers have exposed the White House to heavy criticism from Republican opponents of the law.

“The fact that over 1,000 waivers have been granted is a tacit admission that the healthcare law is fundamentally flawed,” said Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) last month. Upton is one of three House committee chairmen who has used new oversight powers to investigate the annual limit waivers.
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Calls on Administration to Provide Clarity

Mar 25, 2011 Issues: Defense and National Security, Foreign Affairs

LANGHORNE, Pa. – Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick today released the following statement on the ongoing United States military operations in Libya which commenced on March 19, 2011.

“There are important questions that need to be answered by President Obama regarding the current military action taking place in Libya. I have enormous confidence in the ability of our military’s brave fighting men and women and they need and deserve clarity in their mission, means, and chain of command.

“The President must define what political and military victory in Libya will look like. The language of the United Nations resolution under which allied forces are ostensibly operating has been the source of division and confusion within the coalition as to the scope of its mandate and the military means to be employed.

“Both the Congress and the American people deserve a clear explanation of what our goals are, how we intend to achieve these goals and how long United States forces will be involved in military operations in Libya. I look forward to the briefing by Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen and General Clapper and hope they are able to provide answers to these vital questions as the conflict enters its second week.”