Rand Paul presidential campaign, 2016/Government regulations
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 Rand Paul |
U.S. Senator (Assumed office: 2011) |
 Republican candidate: |
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This page was current as of the 2016 election.
- Rand Paul reintroduced his Senate bill on November 4, 2015, that would eliminate restrictions on Government Accountability Office audits of the Federal Reserve and mandate that the Federal Reserve's credit facilities, securities purchases, and quantitative easing activities be subject to congressional oversight. The bill is formally known as the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015, but informally it is known as the "Audit the Fed" bill. Paul originally introduced the bill, in the 114th Congress, on January 27, 2015, but reintroduced it to use the Senate's Rule XIV process to put the bill directly on the Senate legislative calendar after the Senate Banking Committee showed no sign of taking action on the measure. Whether or not it would get a vote is up to the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who is one of the bill's thirty-three cosponsors. “The Fed operating under a cloak of secrecy has gone on for far too long. The American people have a right to know exactly how Washington is spending their money. The time to act is now," Paul said.[2] [3] [4]
- Paul introduced a joint resolution on April 28, 2015, to nullify the Federal Communications Commission's recently published regulations on the Internet. Paul expressed opposition to net neutrality in the accompanying press release, "This regulation by the FCC is a textbook example of Washington’s desire to regulate anything and everything and will do nothing more than wrap the Internet in red-tape. The Internet has successfully flourished without the heavy hand of government interference. Stated simply, I do not want to see the government regulating the Internet."[5][6]
- In March 2015, Paul reintroduced S.790 - Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015. The bill would reduce taxes and government regulations in zip codes where unemployment is greater than one and half times the national average. Paul explained, "The Economic Freedom Zones Act will allow impoverished areas to remove the shackles of big government by reducing taxes, regulations, and burdensome work requirements. These zones will give parents and students the flexibility to find better schools and provide incentives for philanthropy. By taking drastic, meaningful action, we can create new jobs and finally get these communities back to work."[7][8]
- In 2013 and 2014, Paul sponsored or co-sponsored several bills to decrease the regulatory power of the federal government:
- S. 2216 - Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2014, which would require notice and a 15-day grace period be granted to small businesses for regulatory violations.[9][10]
- S. 1029 - Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013, which would reform the rule-making process of federal agencies by requiring them to consider the nature of the problem and alternative solutions in greater depth.[11]
- S. 191 - Regulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act of 2013, which would require a cost/benefit analysis of any proposed regulation.[12]
- S.204 - National Right-to-Work Act, which would prevent employers from requiring that their employees join or pay dues to a union.[13]
| Video released by Paul on October 6, 2011 on the overreach of government regulations. |
- In February 2011, Paul first introduced S. 299 - Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011 or the REINS Act, a bill that would "require congressional approval of major rules of the executive branch before they may take effect."[14] Paul has since re-introduced the bill in 2013 and 2015, but The Hill suggests the bill is unlikely to pass since "Democrats fear the measure would give Congress a green light to block many much-needed public protections from ever seeing the light of day."[15][16]
Recent news
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Rand Paul dropping out of White House race," February 3, 2016
- ↑ The Hill, "Paul in new push for 'Audit the Fed' bill," November 4, 2015
- ↑ Rand Paul Senate website, "Sen. Rand Paul Reintroduces 'Audit the Fed'," November 4, 2015
- ↑ Congressional Research Service, "The Legislative Process on the Senate Floor: An Introduction," August 13, 2014
- ↑ Rand Paul, United States Senator for Kentucky, "Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Joint Resolution of Disapproval to Repeal Internet Regulation," April 29, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.J.Res.14 - A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission regulating broadband Internet access.," accessed May 21, 2015
- ↑ Rand Paul, United States Senator for Kentucky, "Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015," March 18, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.790 - Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2015," accessed May 21, 2015
- ↑ Open Congress, “S.2216 - Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2014," archived March 7, 2016
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.2216 - Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2014," accessed May 21, 201
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.1029 - Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013," accessed December 9, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.191 - Regulatory Responsibility for our Economy Act of 2013," accessed December 9, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, “S.204 - A bill to preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities.," accessed December 9, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "S.299 - REINS Act," accessed May 21, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, S.226 - Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015," accessed May 21, 2015
- ↑ The Hill, "Republicans introduce bill to rein in regulators," January 22, 2015
