Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Republican-led House has passed legislation that would freeze major government regulations until the unemployment rate, now at 8.2 percent, drops to 6 percent or below.

The latest GOP attempt to rein in Obama administration's rulemaking, like previous anti-regulation bills, is virtually certain to die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The vote Thursday was 245-172.

Republicans contend that unelected bureaucrats are costing businesses time and money and preventing hiring new workers. Democrats say consumer protection, health care, aid to veterans, food safety and workplace rules would suffer if Washington cannot regulate these areas.

Some earlier Republican bills were aimed at specific regulations, including environmental ones. But this latest legislation would affect proposed rules across the board.