Regulation Nation

There is no limit to America's potential when we're freed from the heavy hand of gov't over-regulation

Regulation Nation

While private sector employment has declined under President Obama's watch, the president's record on government job creation is unmatched for his time in office.

In the wake of the federal takeover of health insurance, the massive market interventions of Dodd-Frank, and the EPA's continued attempts to implement a cap-and-tax scheme against the will of Congress - President Obama has created plenty of work for federal regulators.

To put this enormous expansion of government into perspective, if the federal government's regulatory operation were a business it would be the third largest in terms of employees. In fact, there are more federal regulators than there are people working at McDonald's, Ford, Disney and Boeing combined.

While no doubt many of these federal regulators are well-meaning, dedicated public servants - they are charged by their superiors with tasks that undermine our economic recovery and make it increasingly difficult to start a business and create jobs.

According to the Small Business Administration, small firms that historically have been responsible for 70% of net new jobs suffer the most under the federal government's regulatory regime. On average, these small employers pay 45% more in compliance costs than big businesses.

Some regulations are important to keep our air and water clean, our food healthy, and our workers safe. But when Congress makes laws and agencies implement those laws through rules and regulations, every step of the way we must consider the impact on jobs and the economy.

Along with passing pending free trade agreements and streamlining the tax code to make America more attractive to investors, the House Republican Plan For Jobs tackles this major problem of overly burdensome, job-killing regulations. We've made some progress, but many of the bills to remedy the regulatory burden and create jobs are stuck in the Senate.

There is no limit to America's potential. And when freed from the heavy hand of government, American workers, inventors and entrepreneurs can achieve anything. Some say America's best days are behind us. I don't believe that for a second. Government didn't make America great - Americans made America great. And given the opportunity, they'll do it again and again.