House GOP’s ‘Stop government abuse week’ tackles regs

House Republicans are taking aim at Obama administration regulations, with a slate of planned votes meant to limit the federal government’s rule-making authority. 

The chamber is expected to approve the REINS Act, a bill that would give Congress the power to block any federal rule that carries an annual price tag of $100 million or more.

{mosads}“Intrusive government regulations continue to hurt job growth and make your paycheck smaller,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said over the weekend in the Republicans’ weekly radio address.

The REINS Act has, in recent years, been a priority for congressional Republicans intent on slowing the pace of rules being drafted by federal agencies. The bill is likely to find plenty of opposition from Democrats, who argue the measure is a blatant attempt to stop the federal government from enacting important protections at the bidding of big business.

The House is also expected to vote on a bill dubbed the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act, which would bar the IRS from implementing any portion of ObamaCare.

The vote follows the IRS’s targeting scandal and the administration’s announcement that it was delaying a health care regulation, drafted by the IRS, which requires businesses to provide insurance for their workers or pay a penalty.

While Republicans staunchly opposed the employer mandate, they also criticized the administration for unilaterally delaying a single provision of the law. Cantor said recent events have shown that ObamaCare has created “an unholy union between the IRS and your protected health information.”

“The doctor’s office is the last place anyone would want to find the IRS,” he said.

Also on the docket this week is legislation that would guarantee a citizen’s right to record conversations with a federal regulator.

Republicans are describing their upcoming efforts as “Stop government abuse week” and are promoting the use of the hashtag #StopGovtAbuse.