White House Denies Report It's Considering Regulation Moratorium

WASHINGTON -- The White House is denying a report that President Obama is considering calling for a moratorium on regulations affecting the economy, save those that deal with health care and financial regulations, in his Thursday jobs speech.

"Those reports are false," said White House spokesman Clark Stevens, in a statement to The Huffington Post. "The Administration has a strong record of implementing smart, sensible steps that protect consumers, public health, and the environment. While the President has made clear that we must continue to ensure that new regulations are based on common sense, and implemented in ways that do not impede our economic recovery, he has also made clear that he will not accept the false choice of either having prosperity or clean air, clean water, and safe food. Americans deserve both, and we will continue to take steps that provide those protections, while fostering economic growth."

Word that Obama was a considering a moratorium on regulations came in a Wednesday morning New York Times story that detailed the choices the administration was pondering in hopes of recasting the president as a pragmatic job creator. The story noted there were "internal divisions" among some Obama advisers "over the scope of his economic address to a joint session of Congress on Thursday night":

The president intends to offer at least some progressive proposals to help regain a fighting posture that he has not had since the health care debate, but a provision is also being discussed to place a new moratorium on some regulations that affect the economy, excluding health care and financial rules. The proposals are likely to infuriate an already unhappy Democratic base.

The idea of that the president would consider a regulatory moratorium beyond health care and financial regulations struck Democrats as a potentially massive cave to business interests; and not an entirely inconceivable one. Obama already signed an executive order that implemented a government-wide review to "remove outdated regulations." This past week, the administration withdrew a proposed regulation that would have set stricter ozone standards.

Stevens' statement calms some of the initial concern expressed in the New York Times piece. It also gives a bit of hope to progressives heading into Thursday's address. It does not, however, seem likely to win over those environmentalists or progressives already disheartened with the administration's current regulatory agenda.

Comments

[Loxinabox]

01:50 PM on 09/08/2011

I say take BP ,Halliburton and Obama and throw them all in jail. WASHINGTON (AP) "The Obama administration blocked efforts by government scientists to tell the public just how bad the Gulf oil spill could become and committed other missteps that raised questions about its competence and candor during the crisis, according to a commission appointed by the president to investigate the disaster." Just like Obama and the Democrats lying again and not caring about the environment The White House rewrote crucial sections of an Interior Department report to suggest an independent group of scientists and engineers supported a six-month ban on offshore oil drilling, the Interior inspector general says in a new report.In the wee hours of the morning of May 27, a staff member to White House energy adviser Carol Browner sent two edited versions of the department report’s executive summary back to Interior. The language had been changed to insinuate the seven-member panel of outside experts – who reviewed a draft of various safety recommendations – endorsed the moratorium, WASHINGTON (AP)

[Vic22]

11:52 AM on 09/08/2011

I was actually thinking this this morning. I am for better regulations, but he may want to consider putting a moratium on regulations until maybe 2013 (so it doesnt directly effect his reelection, and is in effect long enough so that companies can consider it in their planning for the next to years). I think that it would be a great put up or shut up shot at the business community sitting on 2 trillion dollars (and the republicans). If the reason you are sitting on this money is because of uncertainty due to regulations and taxes, it would remove the regulation uncertainty, and taxes are very low, so that's a moot point. If unemployment didn't drop significantly and quickly, it would put to bed the Republican ideology about too many regulations and too many taxes, and just prove that they are not hiring due to greed, and the ability to squeeze profit out of people without hiring more or giving raises.

But then again, if Fox is still around, proving an ideology wrong will do nothing (the last 30-40 years haven't swayed them,so nothing will)

[Loxinabox]

01:49 PM on 09/08/2011

He could give himself a chance if he got rid of his "heathcare plan" instead he is trying to block it from the supreme court ruling on it.

[Vic22]

02:31 PM on 09/08/2011

And what is so wrong with his healthcare plan, details please

[Loxinabox]

09:23 AM on 09/08/2011

America's corporate tax rate is among the world's highest. It leaves U.S. firms at a competitive disadvantage and induces them to park their profits abroad, benefiting the rest of the world at our expense. Hello Obama why not try to help America? Just this once?

[taterted81]

09:57 AM on 09/08/2011

Last year congress had a bill to penalize companies that took there jobs oversees. The republicans blocked this. Open you eyes.

[Loxinabox]

10:14 AM on 09/08/2011

The House has already passed a jobs bill but the Dems in the Senate will not bring it up for a vote
The house has passed six jobs bills but the Dem party of no continues to block them.
Try to open your eyes!

[taterted81]

09:58 AM on 09/08/2011

Let me guess. Your also one of the fools who decided to vote in obstructionism in 2010 and then complain nothing gets done, right?

[Loxinabox]

10:28 AM on 09/08/2011

Paul Ryan played Obama like he was a six year old girl just as I told you he would! Obama wanted the debt ceiling raised with no strings. Obama wanted to raise Taxes. Obama wanted to spend money for another stimulus! Hey Obama how did that work out for you?

[gaydood]

06:54 AM on 09/08/2011

let the prebashing begin !

[Loxinabox]

09:24 AM on 09/08/2011

Much like his campaigning it has never stopped.

[comhunt00]

06:10 AM on 09/08/2011

Palin will get into this "ring" and take over.......... Next year ......it will be Palin / Guillliani in a COMPLETE WIPE-OUT over the community organizer..........and by the way........Crazy Joe BITE ME will be kicked off the ticket and replaces by Hill-Billy.........Democrats are STUPID enough to believe that move will be at least competitive.

[Cofassio]

07:50 AM on 09/08/2011

Amusing that you call Dems stupid for a possible but unlikely move for the vice-presidency on the tioket, especially after expecting a Palin-Giulliani ticket-a quitter who's behind Obama in the polls by more than most GOP candidates and an also-ran to run with her. I can only wish for such a ticket

[comhunt00]

06:04 AM on 09/08/2011

It's the STUPID REGULATION ........STUPID !

[DrMaxChartrand]

05:15 AM on 09/08/2011

Romney has the seasoning, philosophy, learning curve experience, organization, and campaign financing machine to best lead Republicans against Obama and the liberal Democrats. Coupled with Herman Cain as VP running mate, they will make an unbeatable team. Romney is the turnaround artist we need, would command respect from world leaders, and he respects the Constitution of the United States. Cain has the charisma, business smarts, and solid conservative credentials. Aftrer a bit of on-the-job training, Cain would be ready to step in as President as needed, and most certainly after a Romney presidency. We could not wish for a more solid team, one that would be electable by all Americans. We are excited about this prospect, and hope that others see this common sense combination as we do.

[gaydood]

06:53 AM on 09/08/2011

no thx DR

[Loxinabox]

09:18 AM on 09/08/2011

Sounds like a winning team.

[wolftor]

04:00 AM on 09/08/2011

i swear i've never seen so many political, economic, social, military, history, and business 'EXPERTS' on one site,,,why don't YOU ALL run for office eh? easy to slap, slam, and critique from the sidelines!! GET IN THE GAME! see just how frreakin 'easy' it all is!

[huckjames1]

04:55 AM on 09/08/2011

I claim the right to slap, slam and critique from the sidelines. In a democracy I claim the right to heckle and call my representative an idiot, no good loser who couldn't make it out in the real world doing something productive, so he/she got into politics. In a democracy, I claim the right to put everything a politician does under the microscope and hold them accountable for everything I don't like whether it's legal or not. I am in the GAME and it's pretty freakin easy.

[huckjames1]

04:18 AM on 09/08/2011

Wow, wonder why that venture never made it thru the main stream media? $534 M, wonder how much of that is accounted for in bankruptcy court?

No, our President does not possess the "Midas Touch", but his optimism has such a hypnotic effect on the ill informed, and dim witted masses. We are DOOMED!

[honeyspcg1]

03:38 AM on 09/08/2011

GOP, please don't pass this bill. Please find a way to boost this economy through private companies rather than adding federal jobs. Please look at tax reform for companies who hire here in the states. Please stop the payroll tax cut. These people have jobs. Seniors on federal annuities have not gotten a cost of living increase in 2010 and 2011 based on the GDP so why should workers get a handout? We're afraid that this jobs bill will cause another S&P downgrade as it looks like we are not capable of getting our financial house in order. We are in a recession. I'm afraid it will be double dip next year. I guess obama's supporters and advisors will not be happy until we are ripe for the takeover and he can set himself up as king frog.

[Sundae Driver]

05:46 AM on 09/08/2011

Another product of right-wing hate media.

[Loxinabox]

09:20 AM on 09/08/2011

Where is that found I am interested in hearing from them?

[sirbosk1]

02:40 AM on 09/08/2011

The bottom line is that Democrats are anti capitalism, anti jobs and anti prosperity since any of those would mean more freedom and less control. Progressive think that a perfect government can make everyone the same, even if they don't try to carry their weight. They are anti freedom.

[gaydood]

06:53 AM on 09/08/2011

ROFL !

[cjohns58]

08:23 AM on 09/08/2011

6th grader?

[jb2422]

08:32 AM on 09/08/2011

Good response most over educated liberals have 1 big problem. You cant teach common sense they come up with all these theroies but when challenged they cant apply this to the real world becacause they just dont fit.

[Freddie Krueger]

01:13 AM on 09/08/2011

Obama continues to go around Congress, kinda looks like we have a dictator.

[Loxinabox]

09:20 AM on 09/08/2011

That has always been his plan

[captchess]

12:58 AM on 09/08/2011

Too bad we can't have a regulation to control Obama.

[Freddie Krueger]

01:15 AM on 09/08/2011

We do, it's called an election.

[chronic]

12:42 AM on 09/08/2011

Wow, I knew this site would TURN against this President but I didn't know it would be this fast.

[huckjames1]

04:58 AM on 09/08/2011

In America chronic, "If you can't get it, you can't stay" and that's a cliche' simply meaning if a person can't do the job, we find someone who can. We haven't turned against him, he is still our President. We are preparing our "Plan B". The clock is still ticking on his Presidency.

[Loxinabox]

09:21 AM on 09/08/2011

I think this site turned two years ago. Try to keep up.

[William1950]

12:38 AM on 09/08/2011

Obama can't get anything through congress anyway... the republicans will oppose their own mothers if the president says their name.. they are actively trying to keep the economy and jobs bad for political gain... congress has what? 13% approval? whatever Obama proposes will be opposed by congress... anything. What we need to do is vote congress out... all of em.

[chronic]

12:42 AM on 09/08/2011

F&F!

[Freddie Krueger]

01:11 AM on 09/08/2011

Stimulus 2009 --- Passed
Frank & Dodd financial reform bill --- Passed
Obamacare --- Passed

But you claim the Republicans have held up Obama, it doesn't look like they said no.

[Freddie Krueger]

01:12 AM on 09/08/2011

Credit card bill --- Passed

[honeyspcg1]

03:41 AM on 09/08/2011

Obamacare - passed. (not one republican vote). they did this behind closed doors.