Dems’ Vote Supports Harmful Regulation & Threatens an Estimated 316,000 American Jobs
FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Lois Capps (CA-23), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), David Cicilline (RI-01), Jim Cooper (TN-05), John Garamendi (CA-10), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Gary Peters (MI-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), John Yarmuth (KY-03)
Tennessee Democrat Continues to Push for Excessive New Red Tape, Votes to Harm Fragile Construction Industry
Washington — Jim Cooper sided with the Obama Administration’s destructive red tape spree once again today by opposing efforts to thwart the federal government from imposing harsh new rules on small businesses. Cooper’s constituents in Tennessee expect him to help create jobs while he is in Washington, not fight to destroy up to 316,000 of them nationwide – many in the struggling construction industry – with brand new regulations during a bad economy.
“Jim Cooper seems to believe Washington’s role is to destroy jobs and stifle growth instead of foster the pro-growth conditions that would help create jobs,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Cooper has done the exact opposite of what his Tennessee constituents want after refusing to reject the radical new federal regulations that could destroy up to 316,000 jobs and burden the struggling construction industry further in the midst of an already bad economy.”
The Coals Residuals Reuse and Management Act would establish a new regulatory framework to preserve public health, but also stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing brand new rules that would prevent the recycling of coal ash byproducts:
“The bill would put the regulatory power in the hands of the states. It sets up a permit system for new coal-ash disposal sites under the Solid Waste Disposal Act. It also sets minimal federal standards and limits the EPA’s role.
“The bill’s backers argued that the hazardous designation would make people shy away from using products made from recycled coal ash, such as concrete and wallboard, even though the ash that’s bound up in these things isn’t a hazard.”
(Renee Schoof, “House bill would block EPA oversight of coal ash, leave it to states,” McClatchy Newspapers, 10/13/11)It is estimated that these new EPA proposals – a marked shift from the existing rules – could destroy up to 316,000 American jobs with an adverse impact on the struggling construction industry. (“An Economic Assessment of New Employment Impact from Regulating Coal Combustion Residuals,” Veritas Economic Consulting, June 2011)
Despite the consequences, Jim Cooper opposed the Coals Residuals Reuse and Management Act. (H.R. 2273, Roll Call #800, Passed 267-144: R 230-3; D 37-141, 10/14/11)
The Obama Administration in Washington continues to pile radical new regulations on small businesses struggling with the bad economy, and today Jim Cooper voted to support these efforts. Once again, Cooper’s Washington priorities are wildly out of touch with his constituents in Tennessee who are demanding action to help create jobs, not destroy them.