Johanns Supports Effort to Require EPA to Consider Costs of Regulations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today pressed to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the costs of its proposed regulations before enacting them. Johanns signed onto an amendment identical to a bill he introduced in March with Environment and Public Works Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla). The bill would require a comprehensive analysis of the total economic impact of the agency's rules on jobs; retail electricity rates and gasoline prices; power plant closures; state and local governments; small businesses; electric reliability; and energy-intensive manufacturers.

"It's time to force EPA back to reality by requiring the agency to consider the costly, job-killing impact of their outlandish regulations," Johanns said. "An interagency review of all EPA proposals is the only way for Americans to know exactly how they will impact our job creators and the economy. If EPA is going to continue expanding its regulations, it needs to be honest about the lasting effects on our country's economy."

Today's effort is filed as an amendment to the bill currently being considered in the Senate, the Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act. The amendment would require a committee comprised of agency heads to analyze the economic and energy impacts of EPA regulatory proposals.

The amendment would not constrain EPA's regulatory power; it would only serve to make the costs and impacts more transparent. Sens. Johanns and Inhofe in March introduced identical legislation, entitled the Comprehensive Assessment of Regulations on the Economy (CARE) Act.