WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted today in favor of H.R. 712, the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act, which addresses the “sue and settle” practice commonly used by the Obama Administration and special interest groups to implement costly environmental regulations. Whitfield released the following statement upon passage.
“Under the sue and settle process, the Environmental Protection Agency chose not to defend themselves in lawsuits brought by special interest groups on at least 60 occasions between 2009 and 2012. This type of unilateral decision making by the executive branch is unacceptable and directly resulted in more than 100 new regulations, many of which cost millions, sometimes billions in compliance costs.
“The legislation we passed today will ensure accountability and transparency in the executive branch moving forward, and will maintain the checks and balances our Founders specifically created to keep the power in the hands of the American people. We cannot continue to allow unelected bureaucrats free reign to impose burdensome regulations at will.”