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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 15 May 2017

GOP lawmakers mark success by flipping rules from Obama era

KEVIN FREKING signed to keep guns out of
Associated Press the hands of certain men-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fi- tally disabled people. The
nal score: Republicans 14, NRA as well as advocacy
Barack Obama’s last-min- groups for the disabled
ute regulations, one. and the ACLU weighed in.
Congressional Republi- They said it was discrimina-
cans anxious to show vot- tory for the Social Security
ers they can get some- Administration to forward
thing done are hailing their the names of certain ben-
reversal of more than a eficiaries to the instant
dozen Obama-era regula- background check system
tions on guns, the internet based on a mental disabil-
and the environment. ity and having a third party
Over a few months, law- manage their benefits.
makers used an obscure Democrats and environ-
legislative rule to ram mentalists scored one vic-
through changes that will tory last week.
have far-reaching implica- Senate Republicans failed
tions for the coal industry, to overturn a rule that
broadband customers, would have forced ener-
hunters and women seek- gy companies to capture
ing health care at Planned more of the methane that’s
Parenthood and other burned off or “flared” at
abortion providers. drilling sites. Sen. John Mc-
The deadline for scuttling Cain, R-Ariz., said he con-
the rules that Democrat In this Jan. 18, 2017 file photo, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Sen. sidered the rule onerous
Obama imposed during John Barrasso, R-Wyo., right, confers with Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. on Capitol Hill in Washington, but undoing it would have
his final months in office during the committee’s confirmation hearing for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator- prevented the Bureau of
was last Thursday. The 1996 designate, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Land Management from
Congressional Review Act Associated Press issuing a similar rule in the
had given Republicans the future.
power to make the chang- New York, the Democrat- the National Rifle Associa- said that when it comes to McCain, Sen. Lindsey Gra-
es with a simple majority, ic leader in the Senate, tion and prominent anti- slow economic growth, it’s ham of South Carolina and
within a set time. argued that overturning abortion groups — all key difficult to say, “This regula- Sen. Susan Collins of Maine
While the rest of Washing- rules passed at the end of constituencies that gen- tion is the culprit, but col- joined Democrats on the
ton focused on the furor the Obama administra- erally back Republican lectively, that’s what hap- vote.
over President Donald tion hardly constituted an candidates. The Cham- pens.” GOP leaders opted not to
Trump’s firing of FBI Direc- agenda. ber endorsed eight of the “Together, they affected bring a couple dozen oth-
tor James Comey, Repub- “The fact that they are 14 repeal resolutions that a pretty broad base of er repeal resolutions up for
licans were celebrating bragging about these high- Congress passed. One still the business community,” a vote, including one that
their effort to reverse the lights how little else they awaits the president’s sig- Bradley said. would have blocked a rule
rules, arguing that it would have accomplished legis- nature before it can be- Democrats overwhelm- designed to protect funds
boost the economy and latively,” Schumer said. come law. ingly voted against most on prepaid debit cards in
make it easier for business- Republicans have a long Republicans reversed of the regulatory repeals. case of fraud and unau-
es to operate. way to go in their efforts Obama rules that en- Republicans generally sup- thorized use.
“I am almost speechless to repeal and replace the hanced protections for wa- ported them, with Vice Still, the 14 victories gave
when I think about the suc- health care law, cut taxes terways near coal mines, President Mike Pence cast- Republicans a chance to
cess,” said Sen. Jim Inhofe, and boost infrastructure required contractors to dis- ing the tie-breaking vote to crow.
R-Okla. spending, all Trump pri- close violation of 14 federal allow states to deny fed- “In just a few short months,
Senators pointed out that orities. Still, the GOP made labor laws for the previous eral family planning money we have turned a sig-
Congress had only once clear soon after election three years when bidding to Planned Parenthood nificant corner from how
before used the legisla- victories in November that on contracts and imposed and other abortion provid- things operated under the
tive tools stemming from one of the first orders of tight restrictions on what ers. That reversed a rule Obama administration,”
the Congressional Review business would be to go af- broadband companies Obama issued in his last said Senate Majority Lead-
Act to quash a regulation ter Obama administration such as Verizon, AT&T and weeks in office. er Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
— until this year. In all, the rules. Comcast could do with While many of the actions “Instead of going around
GOP was able to reverse The effort has had strong their customers’ personal were designed to help busi- Congress to push through
14 regulations that had or backing from business data. nesses, others addressed regulations, the president is
will get Trump’s signature. groups such as the U.S. Neil Bradley, a senior vice social issues, including the working with us to ease the
Sen. Chuck Schumer of Chamber of Commerce, president at the Chamber, repeal of a regulation de- burden.”q