Overnight Regulation: Senators unveil reg reform package

Welcome to OVERNIGHT REGULATION, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Wednesday evening here in Washington, and here’s what Lindsey Graham thinks of Donald Trump: http://bit.ly/1HS4ZX5

Here’s the latest.

 

THE BIG STORY

The federal rulemaking process is coming under new scrutiny in the Senate.

Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) introduced a package of regulatory reform bills on Wednesday that aim to “relieve the overwhelming burden that regulations have placed on our economy and families.”

“Unfortunately, too many federal rules are unnecessarily burdensome to families and businesses,” Lankford said. 

{mosads}”These bills will produce a more efficient regulatory process, and ultimately better regulations,” he added.

The Smarter Regulations Through Advance Planning and Review Act would require retrospective reviews of major rules to make sure they are meeting their objectives.

The Principled Rulemaking Act would require federal agencies, including independent agencies, to “tailor rules to impose the least burden on individuals and businesses.” The agencies would only issue rules that are “necessary” and “maximize benefits.”

They would be required to identify a problem that needs to be addressed before issuing a rule.

The Early Participation in Regulations Act would essentially delay the federal rulemaking process to give the public more time to participate. Federal agencies would be required to submit an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking before issuing major rules. This would push back the rulemaking process by 90 days.

The regulatory reform bills come from the top lawmakers on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee for regulatory affairs.

 

ON TAP FOR THURSDAY

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing on tax reform and solutions to relieve the tax compliance burden for America’s small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/1JeFcfS

The Senate Judiciary’s Constitution Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled “The Administrative State v. The Constitution: Dodd-Frank at Five Years.” http://1.usa.gov/1HEIQNM

The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing to examine the costs and consequences of the administration’s overtime proposal. http://1.usa.gov/1OjuvsK

The House Science, Space and Technology’s Energy Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the EPA renewable fuel standard mandate. http://1.usa.gov/1Jz0PDv

The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing to discuss the “too big to fail” provision of Dodd-Frank and the proper role of capital and liquidity. http://1.usa.gov/1gP4Dts

 

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 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will propose rooting out disguised payments for services.

The proposed rules address disguised payments between partners.

The public has 90 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1fmZpUT

–The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will issue new excavation damage prevention rules.

The new pipeline safety rules will give the federal government the ability to go after companies in states with lax laws.

The rules go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. http://bit.ly/1RRItaI

–The Department of Labor will issue new non-discrimination and equal opportunity rules.

The non-discrimination requirements will apply to organizations that receive financial assistance from the agency.

The rules go into effect immediately. http://bit.ly/1IlSKHM

–The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will consider new truck safety standards.

The agency is issuing an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to require rear impact, or underride, guards on trucks. These would better protect other vehicles in the event of a collision.

The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1JyWYq2

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW

Supreme Court: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) wants to amend the Constitution to subject Supreme Court justices to periodic, public retention elections.  http://bit.ly/1g6raSG

GMOs: Legislation that would keep states from issuing mandatory labeling laws for foods that contain genetically modified ingredients is headed to the floor for a vote on Thursday. http://bit.ly/1IlU8dk

Minimum wage: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) rallied Wednesday with hundreds of striking government workers who are calling for wages of $15 an hour and the right to form a union. http://bit.ly/1fmYio0

Financial regs: Senate Republicans have attached to a spending bill controversial legislation that would implement a sweeping overhaul of the financial regulatory system. http://bit.ly/1JfVBRp

Sex education: House Democrats want to change the way sex education is taught in schools. http://bit.ly/1Ije3Yv

Rulemaking: The federal rulemaking process is coming under new scrutiny in the Senate. http://bit.ly/1Dw0z67

Fertility: With partisan battling over abortion on the rise, a Democratic senator withdrew a bill Wednesday expanding government fertility services for wounded veterans and blamed what she said was a Republican attack on women’s health care, AP reports. http://bit.ly/1JfYsJY

Taxes: Top lawmakers and the White House are in the early stages of discussing an ambitious overhaul of how the U.S. taxes its multinational firms, according to officials involved in the effort, The Wall Street Journal reports. http://on.wsj.com/1gN84AZ

 

BY THE NUMBERS

82: The percentage of people who hunt and fish who support the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial new waters regulation, according to a new poll.

(Source: Public Opinion Strategies).

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“We should therefore, I think, reflect long and hard and exercise some humility on our own before upsetting that essential balance,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said in response to Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) suggestion that the Constitution be amended to subject Supreme Court justices to retention elections.

 

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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