Dear Editor:
There are currently two bills in Congress that pose a real and present danger to public safety. One is the Regulatory Decimation Act, and the other is the REINS act. Sponsors claim these bills are designed to “rein in the regulatory state” by reducing unnecessary, burdensome regulations imposed by un-elected bureaucrats. Actually, regulations are designed to implement laws passed by both houses of Congress.
Both bills are redundant, since regulatory agencies already undergo rigorous reviews of their proposed rules and solicit comments from the public, business interests, and other agencies. The Congressional Review Act passed in 1996 gives Congress the authority to review and nullify any regulation. Regulations are also subject to review by the courts.
Passage of either of these bills could delay or eliminate regulations that prevent irresponsible practices that endanger public safety, including unsafe working conditions, contaminated food, polluted air, land and water. The high cost of these assaults on public health and safety would be borne by American taxpayers.
Please call or write our U.S. representative (Kat Cammack) and senators (Rick Scott and Ashley Moody) and urge them to vote no on both of these bills. We can only hope they will see the light, and decide not to sacrifice the health and safety of their constituents upon the altar of corporate profits.
Marc Frazer
Bradford County resident
