House Republicans ask agencies for list of ‘midnight rules’

Republicans in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce have asked the Education and Labor department secretaries for a list of all the draft and final rules planned before President Obama leaves office.

{mosads}“With the current administration entering the final months in office, we are mindful of the precedent that exists for increased regulatory actions executed by outgoing administrations,” said the letters signed by Committee Chairman John Kline (R-Minn.) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).

Reps. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) and Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) co-signed the letter to Labor Secretary Tom Perez, and Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) co-signed the letter to Education Secretary John King.

The members reminded the agencies that the committee has broad oversight authority over agencies and programs under its jurisdiction and that the burst of last-minute rulemakings, known as “midnight regulations,” is worthy of their attention.

Citing a recent Congressional Research Report, they said “midnight rules” may not receive the adequate review and analysis and rules hurried through the formal rulemaking process may not have the same opportunity for public comment that’s required by statute.

In addition to midnight regulations, the committee said the tendency agencies have to “burrow in,” or convert federally appointed employees to career positions, also merits congressional oversight.

The committee asked the agencies to list the number of positions that have been created since Jan. 1 and give a number for how many more positions will be created before the end of the president’s term.