Dems Vote to Risk 23,000 Jobs With More Job-Killing Red Tape From Washington

October 6, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Tim Bishop (NY-01), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-23), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Ron Kind (WI-03), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Shuler Votes to Risk 23,000 Jobs With More Job-Killing Red Tape From Washington
North Carolina Democrat Votes to Continue Red Tape Instead of Embracing Common Sense Reform

Washington — Despite the Democrats’ pledges to embrace common sense regulatory reform, Heath Shuler today sided again with the Obama Administration’s unreasonable and burdensome policies that continue to destroy jobs rather than create them. Cement plants across the country are going to be slammed with new red tape from the Obama Administration that could cost tens of thousands of jobs, but Shuler opposed efforts today that would simply require the EPA to study new cement plant regulations’ impact on jobs and ensure that companies are allowed enough time to meet those new standards in a way that would not destroy jobs in the midst of a struggling economy.

“Heath Shuler’s continuing support for the Obama Administration’s job-destroying policies in this dismal economy puts him sharply at odds with his North Carolina constituents who are looking for signs of economic growth,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Shuler and his fellow Democrats promised common sense reform in the wake of their job-crushing red tape spree, but the pledge rings hollow after he just voted to continue risking tens of thousands of jobs.”

The rapid increase in red tape under cement MACT rules could endanger up to 4,000 jobs in the cement industry alone and an additional 19,000 jobs in the construction industry, forcing these jobs overseas instead. (Ed Sullivan, “Overview Impact of Existing and Proposed Regulatory Standards on Domestic Cement Capacity,” Portland Cement Association, January 2011)

The Cement Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 would simply require the EPA to delay its new cement plant rules while it studies cement MACT’s impact on job creation and allow more time for the struggling small businesses affected by the rule to comply:

“The House was debating H.R. 2681, a bill sponsored by Sullivan that would impose a 15-month delay in the EPA’s cement rules, require them to be achievable for cement plants, and give those plants five years to comply. Republicans argued that the EPA rules, known collectively as ‘cement MACT,’ threaten to shut down several U.S. cement plants.” (Pete Kasperowicz, “GOP says EPA cement rules undermine Obama’s call for infrastructure projects,” The Hill‘s Floor Action Blog, 10/5/11)

Heath Shuler voted against the Cement Regulatory Relief Act of 2011. (H.R. 2681, Roll Call #764, Passed 262-161: R 237-2; D 25-159, 10/6/11)

Despite promises from Democrats to carefully consider how destructive excessive regulations from Washington can be on job creation, Heath Shuler continues to push for more red tape. Shuler chose today to side with the Obama Administration again and push for rules that will make America less competitive and likely send those job opportunities to foreign countries instead.

Dems Vote to Risk 23,000 Jobs With More Job-Killing Red Tape From Washington http://ow.ly/6Pxkh #madeinwdc

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