House passes bill putting restrictions on unfunded mandates

The House passed legislation Friday that would put restrictions on unfunded federal mandates by requiring alternatives to rules that cost more than $100 million.

Lawmakers passed the measure on a mostly party-line vote of 230 to 168, with support from 10 Democrats.

{mosads}The bill — introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) and known as the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act — would require agencies to propose regulatory alternatives when the cost of the rules exceed $100 million. Agency heads would be given the option to explain why a less expensive alternative wasn’t used when publishing the final rule.

Foxx has said that federal rules and regulations number in the thousands each year and that the related costs make it harder for businesses to hire employees. She’s said that regulators should be required to measure the cost of rules before implementation.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), a co-sponsor, has said the legislation would lighten the burden on local government.

The measure now heads to the Senate.