GOP sharpens little-used 'legislative veto' tool

[sinkingfeeling]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-09-18/federal-regulations-legislative-veto/50457666/1

WASHINGTON – Republican members of Congress looking to kill what they call "job-killing regulations" already have a ready-made tool at their disposal — but Congress has used it to overturn just one regulation in 15 years.

So some congressional Republicans are looking to revive the often-ignored law known as the Congressional Review Act. Sometimes called a "legislative veto," the act could help fast-track efforts to kill Obama administration regulations by clearing procedural hurdles in the Senate. Just 30 senators can force a vote and send regulations back to the president under the CRA.

Proposed as part of the 1994 Republican "Contract With America," the Congressional Review Act was enacted as part of a 1996 small-business bill. Since then, Congress has used it to overturn only one regulation: a workplace ergonomics rule by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 2001. President George W. Bush had just been sworn in, allowing him to sign a bill striking down a regulation developed under his predecessor.

Before and since, there have been 74 attempts to invoke the Congressional Review Act. Few get a hearing, and only three have passed even one chamber.

[Drale]

1. We need to make sure the Democrats have a super majority in both houses

and these rules need to be changed. This is fucking ridiculous.