Shuler Votes Against Bipartisan Efforts to Cut Job-Destroying Red Tape

April 7, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Tim Bishop (NY-01), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), David Loebsack (IA-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Gary Peters (MI-09), David Price (NC-04), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Shuler Votes Against Bipartisan Efforts to Cut Job-Destroying Red Tape
North Carolina Democrat Votes to Keep Unpopular Proposed EPA Regulations

Washington — The House moved today to block highly unpopular and onerous proposed regulations that would crush jobs and increase energy prices, and yet Heath Shuler stood by his Democrat leaders in voting against these bipartisan efforts. The bill was written in reaction to numerous complaints from businesses and workers alike, who complained that regulations recently proposed by the Democrats at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would pile on job-crushing red tape at a time when the economic recovery is still fragile.

“It’s rather stunning that at a time when families in North Carolina are looking for relief from rising energy costs and high unemployment, Heath Shuler votes to toe the Democrat party line and make matters worse instead,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Shuler talks big about creating jobs and fighting rising energy costs, but when given a chance to join bipartisan efforts today, he continued to vote right alongside Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Democrat leadership trying to preserve their same old failed policies.”

The proposed EPA rules regulating carbon emissions have been especially unpopular among job creators:

“The Environmental Protection Agency, which enforces rules that affect the U.S. economy from factories to farms, is the No. 1 target of complaints from business groups collected by House Republican leaders. … The EPA’s rules to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases were cited as an impediment to growth by at least 30 organizations writing to Mr. Issa, including representatives of the agriculture, business, chemicals, energy, paper, manufacturing and steel and iron sectors.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Business Groups’ Target: EPA,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/7/11)

The EPA has even drawn criticism from big labor unions for its onerous regulation proposals under the Obama Administration:

“The Obama administration’s environmental agenda, long a target of American business, is beginning to take fire from some of the Democratic Party’s most reliable supporters: Labor unions. … Their contention: Roughly half a dozen rules expected to roll out within the next two years could put thousands of jobs in jeopardy and damage the party’s 2012 election prospects.” (Stephen Power, “EPA Tangles With New Critic: Labor,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/14/11)

However, Heath Shuler voted against a bill to rescind this red tape today. (H.R. 910, Roll Call Vote #249, Passed 255-172: R 236-0; D 19-172, 4/7/11)

When given the chance to join bipartisan efforts to prevent regulation that would impede job creation and make rising energy costs worse, Shuler decided to stand in the way and vote with Nancy Pelosi instead. As his North Carolina constituents continue to be burdened under rising energy costs and a slow economy, they will not forget how Shuler continues to side with his leaders in D.C. instead of them.

House Dems Vote Against Bipartisan Efforts to Cut Job-Destroying Red Tape http://ow.ly/4vz9B #MadeInWDC

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