Job Creation vs. Dust Regulation

The President just made headlines with his outreach to business and stated desire to beef up job creation.  At the same time, his administration is putting senseless regulations on the family farmers and small businesses that create jobs.  His budget is expected to include at least one tax increase on job creators.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to regulate dust is a prime example of government wrong-headedness.   The agency’s particulate matter standards for dust would be extremely burdensome for farmers and livestock producers.  Whether it’s livestock kicking up dust, soybeans being combined on a dry day, or driving a car down a gravel road, dust happens.  Yet producers could be required to take expensive steps to meet the stringent standards, despite practicing good management practices on their soils.

Farmers don’t set out to pollute with excessive dust.  The regulatory target is unreasonable.  A farmer won’t be able to invest in the new equipment or support the Main Street businesses that  help the rural economy if he’s spending additional resources to meet an impossible new government regulation.

Adding to frustration at the grass roots is government obliviousness to common sense.  After the President ordered all agencies to review all regulations on businesses, the Environmental Protection Agency said it was “confident” it wouldn’t need to alter a single regulation.  And the agency had the arrogance to say so just a few days after the President’s very public order. Meanwhile, that agency’s rules dominated the responses to a House chairman who asked employers to name regulations that harm jobs.

Government regulations have to be reasonable.  I reminded the Environmental Protection Agency of the dust rule.  I’ll continue to fight that regulation and all others that don’t make sense and impede economic growth.