OVERNIGHT REGULATION: House readies blow against union-election rule

Welcome to OVERNIGHT REGULATION, your daily rundown of rules from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Wednesday evening here in Washington and after a long day of budget news and chemical bill debates, one of us is planning to go home and binge watch “House of Cards,” so the other one will stop threatening to spoil the plot. We’ll let you figure out who’s who.

{mosads}In other news, shoutout to Tim’s old college basketball team who won their third NAIA DII national championship this week in such a dominating fashion that he likes to think Cornerstone could totally blow out the Kentucky Wildcats. In case you missed it, you can watch a replay of the game here: http://es.pn/1FC6CtX

Here’s what else is happening:

 

THE BIG STORY

Congressional Republicans are going for the knock out against one of the Obama administration’s most controversial labor policies. http://bit.ly/1EjSlh8

The House will vote Thursday to strike down a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule that speeds up union elections. The Senate approved the measure earlier this month in a 53-46 vote.

Republicans are turning to the Congressional Review Act in an attempt to disapprove of what they refer to as the NLRB’s “ambush election” rule.

The measure has widely split lawmakers along party lines.

House Republicans are nearly certain to approve the disapproval resolution, sending a strong statement to the Obama administration that they will not back down on labor issues.

But it doesn’t appear Republicans can rally a two-thirds majority in Congress necessary to override a veto by President Obama.

That means the rule will likely go into effect on April 14.

But top Republicans say they are more focused on raising awareness about President Obama’s failed labor policies, even if their measure doesn’t succeed.

 

ON TAP FOR THURSDAY

The Free State Foundation will discuss the future of the Internet following the Federal Communications Commission’s recently approved net neutrality rules at its 7th Annual Telecom Policy Conference at the National Press Club.http://conta.cc/1xyS6fA

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing to discuss the Affordable Care Act at five years. http://1.usa.gov/1MOICnm

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing on patent reform and how to protect innovation and entrepreneurship.http://1.usa.gov/1A23Vyh

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a hearing to examine the regulatory regime for regional banks. http://1.usa.gov/1B1sPuW

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will have a full committee hearing to examine federal rulemaking challenges and areas of improvement within the existing regulatory process. http://1.usa.gov/18IVUVx

The House Appropriations Committee will meet to discuss the Consumer Product Safety Commission budget. http://1.usa.gov/1Cuk3Lw

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 152 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register.

Here’s what to watch for:

–The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will review credit card practices to determine whether they offer enough protections for consumers.

The CFPB will seek public comment on the practices of credit card companies and the terms of their agreements with consumers.

“How effective are current disclosures of rates, fees, and other cost terms of credit card accounts in conveying to consumers the costs of credit card plans?” the CFPB asks.

“Do unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices, or unlawful discrimination, still exist in the credit card market, and if so, in what form and with what frequency and effect?” it adds.

The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1bg8gWL

–The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will examine the safety standard for portable bed rails intended to prevent young children from falling out of bed while they are sleeping.

The CPSC will propose to continue collecting information about the current safety standard. This information could help the agency determine whether a new standard is necessary.

The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/192UogJ

–Department of Labor (DOL) will examine its cotton dust standard.

The DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will collect information on the current cotton dust standard to determine whether changes are necessary.

The public has 30 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1F51WNX

–The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will issue new reporting requirements under the Dodd-Frank financial reform laws.

The new rule includes reporting requirements for security-based swap information.

The rule goes into effect in 60 days. http://bit.ly/1H2ZWXp

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW

Supreme Court: With a number of high-profile cases, including same-sex marriage and ObamaCare, being argued before the Supreme Court this session, lawmakers want the public to be able to tune in to proceedings. http://bit.ly/192QxA9

Net neutrality: Some key Senate Democrats are giving signals that they may join with Republicans in support of bipartisan legislation to replace the FCC’s net neutrality regulations. http://bit.ly/1x1P7kL

Slower work speeds: Civil rights groups say the Department of Labor has formally denied their petition for slower employee work speeds at poultry and meatpacking plants. http://bit.ly/1FEHAtC

Overtime: Labor Secretary Tom Perez said Wednesday his agency is working to complete new overtime regulations that were due last month — but he declined to say when the contentious rule would come out. http://bit.ly/1Es6mcx

E-cigs: Proponents of electronic cigarettes said vaping is 99 percent safer than smoking combustible cigarettes and denounced health studies that point to an increase in underage use as “engineered concern.” http://bit.ly/1x1xSQw

Chemical bills: Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) said the bill he’s co-sponsored with Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) to reform the nation’s chemical laws is the only legislation “on the playing field.” http://bit.ly/1CunJNi

Voter registration: Oregon is the first state to pass automatic voter enrollments, NPR reports. http://n.pr/1F51wqS

Death penalty case: The prosecutor in one of the nation’s most-noted death penalty cases is being accused of misconduct, The Washington Post reports. http://wapo.st/1Gqd3OI

 

BY THE NUMBERS

100 years: How long the Environmental Protection Agency said it could take to assess 1,000 chemicals under the Udall-Vitter chemical reform bill.

$2.5 million: EPA’s estimate cost of evaluating and regulating a chemical from start to finish, according to Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.)

84,000: How many chemicals are expected to be in commerce.

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Our co-sponsors, Democrats and Republicans, continue to grow… The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is the only realistic shot we have at reforming a very outdated and broken system.” – Sen. David Vitter (R-La.)

 

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.

Click here to sign up for the newsletter: http://bit.ly/1pc6tau