Overnight Regulation: Obama unveils actions on gun control

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Tuesday evening here in Washington where President Obama’s executive action on guns dominated the day.

 

THE BIG STORY

An emotional President Obama unveiled new executive actions on gun control Tuesday in an end run around Congress.

The Hill’s Jordan Fabian has the story: http://bit.ly/1SxEmPs

President Obama unleashed a rare display of emotion Tuesday as he announced unilateral steps designed to curb gun violence in America.

Obama was moved to tears when he recalled the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which left 20 first graders dead and sparked his contentious second-term push for gun control.

“Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,” he said, wiping away tears during an event in the East Room. “And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day.”

Flanked by gun-violence survivors and family members of victims, Obama made a stirring case for stricter gun laws. He said the Second Amendment should be balanced with other rights in the Constitution that were denied to victims of other mass shootings. 

“Our right to worship freely and safely — that right was denied to Christians in Charleston, S.C.,” Obama said. “And that was denied Jews in Kansas City, and that was denied Muslims in Chapel Hill and Sikhs in Oak Creek. They had rights too. Our right to peaceful assembly, that right was robbed from moviegoers in Aurora and Lafayette.”

But Republicans are vowing to block the president’s plans.

The Hill’s Scott Wong and Cristina Marcos have more on the GOP’s reaction. http://bit.ly/1MRp1C0

Congressional Republicans are scrambling for a way to halt President Obama’s new unilateral actions on gun control.

One powerful appropriator, Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas), has threatened to block federal funding for the Department of Justice (DOJ) unless the president’s actions are reversed. But last year’s trillion-dollar spending deal already funds the department through September, limiting the GOP’s leverage.

The courts are another option. GOP lawmakers are expected to sue to stop Obama’s gun control proposals from taking effect, a step they’ve taken in the past in fights over executive power. But the legal route almost certainly would result in a drawn-out process that might not be resolved until well after Obama leaves office in early 2017.

Republicans could force a showdown with Democrats sooner by trying to attach a provision rolling back the gun actions to important legislation.

The National Rifle Association was quick to blast the president’s remarks, saying they were “condescending” to law-abiding gun owners. http://bit.ly/1O9dMqx

Obama’s “contempt for the Second Amendment” is turning gun owners into “scapegoats” for mass shootings, the NRA’s top lobbyist argued.

“The American people do not need more emotional, condescending lectures that are completely devoid of facts,” said Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA’s legislative branch.

“The men and women of the National Rifle Association take a back seat to no one when it comes to keeping our communities safe,” Cox continued. “But the fact is that President Obama’s proposals would not have prevented any of the horrific events he mentioned.”

 

ON TAP FOR WEDNESDAY

The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing on a Government Accountability Office report about mismanagement at the Small Business Administration. http://1.usa.gov/1RpS3PE

{mosads}The House Rules Committee will hold a business meeting to discuss the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2015, which would require there to be proof that each proposed member of a class action lawsuit was injured to the same extent as the person named as the class representative before a federal court can certify a class.

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 138 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Register.

–The Department of Energy (DOE) will issue new efficiency rules for ceiling fans.

The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will strengthen the energy conservation standards for ceiling fan light kits.

The DOE estimates the rule will cost manufacturers $6.4 million to comply with — but it will also save consumers a significant amount of energy, as well as up to $660 million over the lifetime of the rule.

The new rules go into effect in 60 days. http://bit.ly/1RfVha4

–The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will not protect certain wolves.

The FWS was considering a petition to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf as an endangered species, but no longer believes it warrants such protections.

“After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the Alexander Archipelago wolf is not warranted at this time throughout all or a significant portion of its range,” the agency writes.

The decision goes into effect immediately. http://bit.ly/1Pe88mV

–The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will considering new safety regulations.

The NRC is reviewing a petition to establish new licensing requirements to determine which “structures, systems, components, and functions” are important to safety.

“The NRC is examining the issues raised in this petition to determine whether it should be considered in rulemaking,” the agency writes.

 The public has 75 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1Z3WyjB

–The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will issue new rules for Wall Street traders stemming from the Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

The CFTC will issue new initial and variation margin requirements for swap dealers.

The new rules go into effect on April 1. http://bit.ly/1Sy54Yf

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW 

Wal-Mart supplier recalls beef patties http://bit.ly/1ZMAIn2

NRA rips ‘condescending’ Obama remarks http://bit.ly/1O9dMqx

CDC report: E-cigarette ads reach 18M teens http://bit.ly/1Uuw35t

Dems weigh in on looming abortion battle http://bit.ly/1S2wfLF

D.C. briefly legalizes pot-smoking in private clubs – then reverses it – The Washington Post http://wapo.st/1RpRrJJ

Poll watch: Americans show selective objection to a president’s executive actions – The New York Times http://nyti.ms/1ZMBpg0

Rule on valuation of bank’s liabilities to be scrapped – The Wall Street Journal http://on.wsj.com/1MRh5kj

 

BY THE NUMBERS

18 million: How many young people see ads for electronic cigarettes in stores, online, in newspapers and magazines, and on TV or in movies.

$115 million: How much was spent on advertising for e-cigarettes in 2014.

1/31/2016: Date by which USDA and HHS are required to release the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If a child can’t open a bottle of aspirin, we should make sure they can’t pull a trigger on a gun,” President Obama said while announcing his executive actions on gun control.

 

We’ll work to stay on top of these and other stories throughout the week, so check The Hill’s Regulation page (http://digital-staging.thehill.com/regulation) early and often for the latest. And send any comments, complaints or regulatory news tips our way, tdevaney@digital-staging.thehill.com or lwheeler@digital-staging.thehill.com. And follow us at @timdevaney and @wheelerlydia.

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