Republicans believe they have identified a potent weapon in their fight against President Obamas regulatory agenda.
GOP lawmakers plan to employ the seldom-used Congressional Review Act (CRA), which gives lawmakers the power to formally disapprove of major agency rules, as they seek to ratchet up their attacks on federal red tape.
"It hasnt been possible to use this in a divided Congress, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) told The Hill, "but now that it is, we certainly are interested in reviewing regulations to make sure they meet with congressional intent.
...
While Obama can and likely will veto any efforts to undo regulations through the CRA, the threats carry more weight now that Republicans control both chambers of Congress.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (Okla.) and other Republicans are zeroing in on the EPA, believing they can use the Review Act against rules for new and existing power plants, water, ozone and coal ash.
There is widespread agreement among Republicans and the business community that the EPA under the Obama administration is out of control and its taking things to the extreme, a senior aide to Inhofe said.
"The CRA has been used sparingly in the past and some folks may say its too aggressive, but frankly the aggressive nature of this administration's regulations demands an aggressive response."
Lawmakers have only struck down one rule under the Congressional Review Act in 43 attempts, according to the Government Accountability Office. In 2001, Republicans repealed the Clinton administration's controversial ergonomics rule aimed at curbing workplace injuries.
The window for action under the CRA is short; the law can only be used against a regulation in the first 60 days after it is enacted. But the disapproval resolutions cannot be filibustered, which means Republicans would only need a simple majority in both chambers to pass them.
It is unlikely, however, that Republicans would be able to muster enough Democratic votes to override an Obama veto of any measure striking down major regulations.
Its an exercise in futility for Republicans, because the way the CRA works is Congress has to pass it, but then it has to be signed into law by the president, and its very unlikely the president would sign off on this," said James Goodwin, senior policy analyst at the left-leaning Center for Progressive Reform.
...
But Republicans believe that forcing Obama to stand behind his "job-killing" regulations will sour voters on his message and turn the political tides in their favor.
"This shows that Congress is really legislating, and its President Obama and some of his allies in Congress that are getting in the way, an aide to Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told The Hill.
"Its going to demonstrate to the American people that its President Obama standing in the way of our good ideas, and not the other way around."
...
If nothing else, using the Congressional Review Act will put Democrats on record as to whether they stand with the president on certain policies.
The desire of Democrats to distance themselves from the president is only beginning to grow, the senior Inhofe aide said. One of the best ways they can distance themselves is by voting to overturn bad regulations.
