McConnell-Inhofe Amendment Would Protect all Job Creators From EPA Overreach VIDEO

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday regarding the McConnell-Inhofe Amendment to job-destroying EPA regulations:

“Later today, the Senate will vote on an amendment that one leading newspaper described last week as one of the best proposals for growth and job creation to make it onto the Senate docket in years.

“More specifically, this amendment, which is based on legislation proposed by Senator Inhofe, would prevent unelected bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing a new national energy tax on American job creators.

“Everyone knows that this attempt to handcuff American businesses with new costs and regulations is the last thing these job-creators need right now.

“That’s why even Democrats in Congress have sought to secure the same kind of exemptions from the law for favored industries in their own states that we saw others from their party trying to secure for favored constituencies in the health care law.

“Democrats from auto states tried to have the auto industry exempted. And Democrats from farming states tried to have farmers exempted.

“What these efforts show, is that Democrats themselves recognize the dangers of these EPA regulations. Yet instead of just voting for the one amendment that solves the problem, they’re hiding behind sham amendments designed to give them political cover.

“Well, Republicans have a better idea — let’s try to make sure everybody is exempted. Let’s not pick winners and losers. Let’s let America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs compete and grow on a level playing field without any more burdensome government regulations, costs, or red tape.

“The McConnell Amendment would do that.

“The McConnell Amendment would give businesses the certainty that no unelected bureaucrat at the EPA is going to make their efforts to create jobs even more difficult than the administration already has.

“So once again, I want to thank Senator Inhofe for his strong leadership on this issue.

“He’s led the way in protecting American jobs from this burdensome proposal with determination and common sense. He deserves the credit.

“And I also want to thank Chairman Upton and my good friend, Congressman Whitfield, for fighting against this effort by the EPA and moving legislation to prevent it in the House.”

VIDEO CREDIT: RepublicanLeader

TEXT CREDIT: U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Washington Office 361-A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2541 Fax: (202) 224-2499

Mike Johanns commends Colleagues For Passing 1099 Repeal VIDEO

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today commended his Senate colleagues for rising above the partisan fray and pushing the 1099 repeal effort onward to the President's desk. Over the past eight months Johanns introduced 1099 repeal seven times, and today it finally passed in the Senate by a vote of 87-12.

"Today, the wrench has finally been pulled from the gears of progress," Johanns said. "I appreciate that my colleagues have seen the wisdom of avoiding further delays and getting this costly, looming paperwork burden off the backs of our job creators. We now need only a simple signature from the President and this bill will become law, saving jobs and much needed capital for our small businesses." Background: • The 1099 repeal passed today is identical to a stand-alone bill Johanns had previously introduced, and which has already passed in the House of Representatives.

Since both houses have passed identical versions, 1099 repeal will not have to go to a Conference Committee, and now only needs the President's signature to be enacted into law.

• An amendment that would have resulted in further delay of 1099 repeal was rejected.

• Johanns has introduced legislation to repeal the 1099 mandate seven times. Click here for more on his efforts, and for a list of businesses supporting full repeal of the 1099 provision.

VIDEO CREDIT: SenatorMikeJohanns

TEXT CREDIT: Mike Johanns Washington, D.C. Office: 404 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Tel: (202) 224-4224 Fax: (202) 228-0436 Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET.

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