BILL: Should We Fight Executive Overreach? - REINS Act of 2023 - H.R.277
Tell your reps to support or oppose the bill
The Bill
H.R.277 - The REINS ACT - The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2023
Bill Status
- Sponsored by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) on Jan. 11, 2023
- The lead sponsor is Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
- Committees: House- Judiciary; Rules; Budget
- House: Passed
- Senate: Received on June 20, 2023 - Not yet voted
- President: Not yet signed
Bill Overview
- The REINS Act would require congressional approval for any proposed federal agency rule with an economic impact of $100 million or more.
- It puts decision-making power in the hands of elected representatives and reclaims legislative power from unelected agencies.
- Preserves Congress’ authority to disapprove of a “nonmajor rule” through a joint resolution.
What's in the Bill?
Proposes that major regulations need Congress' approval
- When a federal agency proposes a major regulation, the bill says it will need to submit the regulation to Congress for approval.
- Both the House and the Senate would have to pass a joint resolution of approval. If the resolution fails, the regulation will not go into effect.
Places decision-making in the hands of elected representatives
- Enhances democratic accountability and reduces regulatory overreach by executive-branch agencies.
Defines major rules
- The REINS Act defines a “major rule” as any federal rule or regulation that will have an annual effect on the economy exceeding $100 million.
- The designation will also apply to regulations that will lead to a major increase in prices for consumers, individual industries, government industries, or geographic regions.
- Applies to regulations that have a significant negative impact on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises.
What Supporters are Saying
- Sponsor Rep. Cammack said:
“The REINS Act is the single largest regulatory reform in decades and will save the American people trillions each year in compliance costs...It’s long past time we limit the rampant executive overreach that makes up the fourth branch of government and rein in the nameless, faceless bureaucrats in basements across Washington, D.C. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support of this effort in seeing this bill past the finish line.”
- James Broughel, a fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said:
"Contrary to the original intent of the U.S. Constitution, powerful lawmaking authority now resides in an alphabet soup of federal agencies like the EPA, the CDC, and the SEC. Our elected representatives, meanwhile, have largely been relegated to the sidelines."
"The REINS act would hold Biden and his bureaucrats accountable by forcing them to answer to representatives elected by the American people, and it also holds those representatives accountable by requiring them take a vote on how tax dollars will be spent.”
What Opponents are Saying
- The White House opposes the legislation, stating that Biden will veto the bill if it passes in the Senate:
“The Administration strongly opposes passage of H.R. 277. [The] REINS Act of 2023 would undermine agencies’ efforts by inserting into the regulatory process an unwieldy, unnecessary, and time-consuming hurdle that would prevent implementation of critical safeguards that protect public safety, grow our economy, and advance the public interest. If Congress were to pass H.R. 277, the President would veto it.”
- The National Education Association said:
“These provisions are unnecessary as well as unwise. The Congressional Review Act already allows Congress to halt implementation of regulations; it can also decide not to fund a program. The regulatory process is neither simple nor quick—and that is at it should be. The process of formulating regulations, guidance, and rules for implementing federal programs must be informed by the voices of experts, practitioners, and impacted parties, as well as scientific data and other relevant information."
Tell your reps to support or oppose the bill.
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Canva)
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How about Mitch McConnell over reach as to stuffing the courts and the courts over reach. Mitch McConnell banking on you having a short memory. Mitch McConnell does not want any ethics on the supreme courts, which is required on lower courts? They are not independent from corruption and kickbacks!
If you mean the over-reach of a minority of 17th century bigots then yes we should fight it.
Any regulations which adversely affect citizens should be voted on by elected representatives, not randomly enacted by faceless agencies which have no real accountability or oversight.
I agree we should have passed the REINS Act. I've long felt people who aren't elected were running things. And they still are anyway! Why have elections if this is the case? Why not just go apply for the job? There is no reason why these different agencies still can't insert reasons for needing the money before there awarded it. People and agencies should be more accountable with our money and how they use it! It is after all, "Our Tax Money"!
How about Supreme Court overreach? If you can'r handle the heat get out of the kitchen. A want a be Trump !!!
More performative action by the GOP, along with hearings that produced nothing but sound bites for right wing news. Got one house Democratic Party vote, though, from Maine. They continue to demonstrate the inability to produce anything, but happy to take credit for legislation they voted against.
Why is Causes even raising this?
https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023265
ALL SUPPORTERS OF THIS NEED TO BE
" REINED IN" !!!!!!!!
Four Practical Ideas To Get the Ball Rolling To Fix SCOTUS:
1. Call Senators & Representatives, 2. Join efforts to support Term Limits, 3. Join efforts to support Court Expansion, 4. Subscribe to and / or Donate to Pro Publica the publication exposing the SCOTUS Rot.
#1. Call a few key Senators and your Senators Congress person. Phone numbers are below.
–Senator Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
–Senator Wyden, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
–Senator Schumer, Senate Majority Leader
–Your two Senators
–Your Representative
Using the following script or something like it
"I’m calling to demand robust investigations into the corruption of several of our Supreme Court justices.
"It is the Senate’s job to hold them accountable and right now several of them are showing clear evidence of being compromised.
"This is not Leonard Leo’s court.
"It’s not the Federalist Society’s court.
"It’s the Supreme Court of the United States and it’s supposed to be unbiased, nonpartisan, and beyond reproach. It is none of those things.
"Please hold these MAGA justices accountable for their ethical and legal breaches.
"Our democracy depends on it.
"Thank you."
Sen. Durbin: (202) 224-2152 or (312) 353-4952 or (618) 351-1122 or (217) 492-4062 or (309) 786-5173
Sen. Wyden: (503) 326-7525 or (503) 589-4555 or (202) 224-5244
Sen, Schumer: (212) 486-4430 or (518) 431-4070 or (202) 224-6542 or (914) 734-1532
For your Senators or Representative phone numbers you may call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121
When calling your Senators again you can use this script:
"Hello. I am a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is __.
"I’m calling because I’m outraged and dismayed at the corruption on our Supreme Court. At least four of the justices have clearly been installed by billionaire backers to rule for the wealthy few. This is not the way it’s supposed to work. We, the voters, elected you to protect our freedoms, which those justices are taking away from us. I want the Senator to support rebalancing the Court by co-sponsoring S. 1616 the Judiciary Act of 2023. I also want them to co-sponsor S. 359 the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act. We also need term limits for Supreme Court Justices. Finally, I want aggressive investigations into justices who have taken money and perks from people or groups with business before the court.
"Thanks."
When calling your Representative again you can use this script:
"Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is __.
"I’m calling because I’m outraged and dismayed at the corruption on our Supreme Court. At least four of the justices have clearly been installed by billionaire backers to rule for the wealthy few. This is not the way it’s supposed to work. We, the voters, elected you to protect our freedoms, which those justices are taking away from us. I want the Congressmember to support rebalancing the Court by co-sponsoring HR 3422, the Judiciary Act of 2023. I also want them to support HR 926,the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act. We also need term limits. Please ask the Congressmember to advocate for all of this and to make court reform a top priority. Thanks."
#2. If you support term limits for Supreme Court justices sign up with the Brennan Center for Justice https://www.brennancenter.org/
#3. If you’re interested in supporting court expansion sign up with Demand Justice : Demand Justice is leading the movement to Expand the Supreme Court https://demandjustice.org/
#4. Subscribe to and / or donate to Pro Publica https://www.propublica.org This publication is exposing SO MUCH of the rot at the court and they need our help so they can keep doing it. They are fully reader-supported. See Friends of the Court — ProPublica https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-scotus
Note: These suggestions come by way of Jessica Craven https://beacons.ai/jesscraven101. They have been edited.
Funny how Republicans oppose executive power when they're not in the White House.
The GOP created Homeland Security and the Space Force, so obviously they're not opposed to going around Congress and giving the executive more power
What we need to do ... This is urgent......... Before anything can get done........ Take care of the Supreme Court........ Really ....... More judges that are for Americans instead of Republicans...... As is Republicans and Trump can run to Supreme Court ....... And America loses....... And those three Trump and McConnell stuck in needs investigated........ This is urgent to get anything done... Does anyone agree??????
CAUSES TELLS ME: "BILL: Should We Fight Executive Overreach? - REINS Act of 2023 - H.R.277 Tell your reps to support or oppose the bill"
The REINS Act passed the house on 06/14/2023-3:46pm, therefore contact your SENATORS. My rep, Doug Lamborn, of course voted for it.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/277/all-actions?overview=closed&q=%7B%22roll-call-vote%22%3A%22all%22%7D
The REINS ACT, in itself, is Over Reach! The sponsors of this bill scream about over reach, and then try to over reach! That being said, of course as it was introduced, and sponsored by a group of lying, hypcritical, bigoted racist Fascists(aka Members of the GOP Party) an entire group of idiot, lying Republicans it has a double standard double standard transparently at play. It only becomes over-reach when the action is taken by a Democrat per the GD Republicans, but they think and act like whatever they do is just fine-like rolling back voting rights, trying to overturn an election, protecting members of their party who participated in the insurrection (Gaetz, Bobo, Jordan, Gosar.....not to mention Mangy three-name) their over reach and treasonous activities do not matter.
Fascists!
Talk about over-reach-what the hell do the sponsors of this bill call it, but of course since it was introduced by a bunch of idiot Republicans a double standard is at play. It only becomes over-reach when the action is taken by a Democrat per the GD Republicans, but they think and act like whatever they do is just fine-like rolling back voting rights, trying to overturn an election, etc. etc.
WOW!
REINS is a horrible idea.
Making all rules and regulations instituted by our administrative and regulatory agencies obtain the approval of THE MOST DISFUNCTIONAL BRANCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS INSANE!
Nothing would ever get done...
I guess that's the real point.
Republicans want control.
If they can't have control, they want to block EVERYTHING!
Another legislative retread from 2009 originated by the Tea Party that has been tried again annually in the 112th, 113th, 114th,115th, 116th, 117th Congresses which was implemented in 2 states (FL, WI) in 2023.
Congress already gets very little done now so why should we have them reviewing regulations? And if they don't review it on time then the entire regulation is repealed along with any other associated regulations.
Bith REINS and sunsetting are dangerous as Congress would be a bottleneck given how little they accomplish.
"One of the most problematic bills before the Senate1 is the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (“REINS”) Act of 2017.2 The REINS Act would require both houses of Congress to approve each major rule issued by a federal agency before the rule could go into effect. If Congress failed to act, not only would the rule be blocked, but the agency would also be prohibited from promulgating another related rule for the duration of that congressional session."
"The Congressional Review Act already allows Congress to halt implementation of regulations; it can also decide not to fund a program. Moreover, the separation of powers is fundamental to our Constitution: the legislative branch creates the programs that the executive branch implements through federal agencies."
https://policyintegrity.org/files/media/Senate_REINS.pdf
https://ballotpedia.org/REINS_Act
Senators,
We oppose HR 277 and most strongly ask you to reject it.
Thanks!