McMorris Rodgers Hosts Regulatory Roundtable in Spokane

“We Need to Get the Government Out of the Way and
Let Our Job Creators Do Their Jobs”

Spokane, WA – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) hosted a “Regulatory Roundtable” with Eastern Washington business leaders on how an assortment of government agencies is harming the region’s economy through burdensome regulations and how regulatory reform can be a spark for economic growth.  The six business leaders came from Spokane, Colville, Walla Walla, and other local communities and represented a diverse group of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and health care.  

In her opening remarks, Rep. McMorris Rodgers noted, “President Reagan once summed up the government’s attitude toward the economy this way: ‘If it moves, tax it.  If it keeps moving, regulate it.  And if it stops moving, subsidize it.’  That’s true.  And that’s why – more than any other reason – we’re suffering through the longest streak of high unemployment since the Great Depression and the largest national debt in our history.  To revitalize our economy and preserve the American Dream, we need to stop putting burdens on America’s job creators.  We need less taxation, less regulation, and less litigation.  Basically, we need to get the government out of the way and let America’s job creators do their jobs.”

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reports that regulations cost small businesses more than $1.75 trillion per year – more than 12 percent of America's entire economy.  In addition, the Obama Administration is publicly considering 219 major new regulations – each of which, if implemented, would cost our economy $100 million or more.

“Whether it’s farm dust regulations, forest-runoff regulations, or the new health care mandate, the fact is, every dollar that an employer has to spend on complying with government regulations is a dollar he could be spending to create jobs,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.   
The Congresswoman is an original cosponsor of nearly a dozen bills which offer regulatory relief, including HR. 10, the REINS Act; H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act; HR. 2021, the Jobs Energy Permitting Act; H.R. 2541, the Silviculture Regulatory Consistency Act; and H.R. 1391, the Farm Dust Regulatory Prevention Act.   

Last week, the Congresswoman’s GOP Labs released an infographic documenting the negative impact of some of the Administration’s most egregious regulations.  To see it, click here.  

A full list of today’s roundtable participants is below.

Mr. Alan Gorst, Owner, Gorst Construction
Mr. Wes McCart, President, Stevens County Farm Bureau, Farmer
Mr. Duane Lucas Roberts, Director, Walla Walla Clinic
Mr. John Smith, Colville Chamber/EDC
Mr. Eric Bakken, 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort
Mr. Steve West, CEO, Columbia Cedar Timber Mill