Rubio co-sponsor of Paul’s REINS Act

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) joined other Republican senators in co-sponsoring the REINS Act (S 3826) introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Rubio issued a statement that said The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011 aims at better drafted and detailed legislation, an improved regulatory process and more accountability by the Legislative Branch. Although most Americans are clueless about the impact of regulatory fees on businesses and individuals, those fees can be hefty.

RUBIO SETTLES IN—US Senator Marco Rubio met with General Douglas Fraser, Commander of U.S. Southern Command, recently in his Senate office. Southern Command is headquartered in Miami, Florida, where General Fraser is responsible for all Department of Defense security cooperation in the nations and territories of Central and South America and the Caribbean. (Photo from Rubio Senate office)“American entrepreneurs and businesses know all too well how bad legislation can lead to job-destroying uncertainty,” said Rubio. “Just as bad as anti-jobs legislation is the proverbial devil in the details of laws that empower unelected bureaucrats to write rules and regulations that can increase costs, stifle investment and ultimately hold back job creation.”

Regulatory taxes and fees are a backdoor means of levying taxes without congressional approval. The REINS Act would require that Congress must affirmatively approve every new major rule proposed by the Executive Branch before it can be enforced on the American people. The government defines a “major rule” as any rule that may result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, or a major increase in costs or prices for consumers or significant adverse effects on the economy.

Americans pay numerous de facto taxes aside from income tax, sales tax, state tax and gasoline tax. In Florida, a record compiled by The US Report disclosed regulatory fees totaling approximately $82 per month from utility, cell phone and Internet provider bills for a family of 3 for one month. Some of the fees are local and state-based. It is troubling that local municipalities and state governments have taken a federal approach to aggressively seek revenue from citizens rather than cut spending.

Sec. of State Hillary Clinton admitted to what amounts to a “lootership” mentality in June, 2010. Speaking to an audience in Pakistan, she said, in the U.S., “We tax everything that moves and doesn’t move.”

Such taxes and fees negatively impact every American, rich, poor and in-between.

Although President Barack Obama claimed he did not raise taxes, PolitiFact at the left-leaning St. Petersburg Times rated Obama's claim false because of taxes on items like cigarettes and indoor tanning. Energy policy has also had a significant impact on current taxes and it will impact future taxes. There is also a penalty on those who do not purchase health insurance in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act currently being challenged by more than half the states in the country.

Draconian regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency have raised or will raise utility bills even more for Americans because liberal Democrats endorse global warming theories put forth by alarmists whose research has been repeatedly questioned by respectable experts and other scientists. Those EPA regulations will further erode the ability of U.S. companies to compete in a tight global market. However, a Cap and Trade bill aiming to tax American consumers for energy failed in the US Senate. When liberal Democrats controlled the US House, they passed the bill.

Fiscal conservatives believe that only limiting the government’s ability to seek new job-damaging regulatory fees will halt more spending by a  government headed for bankruptcy.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) was a key player in the creation of the REINS Act—he had been working on it since fall.

Rubio promised a policy of fiscal conservatism during his Senate campaign. Thus far, he is keeping that promise unlike many other politicians who believe it is acceptable to say one thing on the stump but do another when they get to Washington.

When he introduced the legislation, Sen. Paul said, “If Congress is to impose regulations and laws on US citizens, it is important that those citizens are made aware of how they come to be. Cutting red tape and opening the regulatory process to scrutiny is an important step in holding government accountable to all Americans.”

Additional Reading

Rolling back red tape: 20 regulations to eliminate
The Heritage Foundation

Waivers, grandfathered plans, Medicare cuts and lawsuits
The US Report

Watts Up With That?
Other viewpoints on alleged global warming

(Analysis by Kay B. Day/Feb. 9, 2011)