WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Excessive government regulation is strangling the U.S. economy, Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., said in the Republican weekly media address Saturday.
The freshman congressman's remarks marked the third consecutive week the party has targeted the Democrats' regulatory policy that Griffith described as "nuisances (that) have become full-blown government barriers to job creation."
He cited two examples of proposed regulations that could have adverse employment effects, one of them being an Environmental Protection Agency ruling on the manufacturing of boilers. Griffith said
"These regulations would impose billions of dollars in new costs, make many goods and services more expensive, and put more than 200,000 jobs at risk," he said.
The congressman also cited other regulations that affect manufacturers of concrete, which he said was responsible for the suspension of construction of a $350 million concrete project in Alabama.
"It was on track to create more than 1,500 construction jobs," he said.
In coming days, the Republican-led House will take up bills that would ease the regulations and Griffith said the president should use his power to support them.
"President Obama, who has said he's willing to consider stopping excessive regulations, should call on the Democrat-led Senate to follow the House in passing these jobs bills," he said.
