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E&E News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
GOP renews deregulation push despite megalaw loss
As Republicans crafted their party-line megabill this summer, some conservative hard-liners hoped the legislation could be a vehicle for a long-sought rollback of agency rules. But instead, the budget reconciliation megabill passed without any language from the 'Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act,' which would dramatically expand congressional veto power over agency rules. Now, Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) — chief sponsors of the deregulatory bill — say they want to get 'REINS' over the finish line through any means necessary. Indeed, the House has included a version in fiscal 2026 spending legislation. Advertisement 'There is not a singular cut that we could make that would mean as much as long-term regulatory reform,' Cammack said in an interview. The 'REINS Act' would give Congress final approval over major rules. Sponsors also want to make it easier to scrap existing agency rules. The measure fits squarely within conservative government-shrinking priorities and has near universal support among the Republican conference. But while 'REINS' likely can pass the GOP-controlled House on its own — and did in 2023 — its chances of hitting 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster are slim. That landscape ups the stakes for Republican sponsors to work the bill into a must-pass funding package or a reconciliation bill, the latter of which requires only a 51-vote majority in the Senate. Yet a parliamentary scuffle that played out in final stages of the megabill fight indicates that conservatives face an uphill battle to get 'REINS' done. A reconciliation bust Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) said the White House backs his efforts. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Lee, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources committee, made 'REINS' a top priority of his during the reconciliation process. He hoped to rewrite the rule-busting language to ensure it complied with the Byrd rule, which dictates that everything in a reconciliation package be budgetary in nature. But that effort ultimately fell short, with Lee being the only senator willing to bat for it. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled against 'budgetary REINS,' as Lee called his provision, despite Lee meeting with her and redrafting the legislation numerous times. 'We had many, many iterations, lots of back and forth, and it was looking favorable. We were getting favorable responses. And then, I believe it was on the day of the bipartisan Byrd bath that we ended up getting an adverse ruling,' Lee said. According to Lee, President Donald Trump supported the inclusion of 'REINS' in the reconciliation bill. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. But among his fellow senators, Lee was alone in pushing the measure. Some GOP Senators doubted from the beginning that it would ever be eligible for inclusion in the reconciliation bill. Even Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who co-sponsors the stand-alone version of 'REINS,' was not in Lee's corner. Paul chairs the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, which he confirmed to POLITICO's E&E News has jurisdiction over 'REINS.' But he left the language out of his committee's portion of the megabill. 'It's a policy, and it's difficult to put policy into a budget resolution,' Paul said in an interview. House action likely Lee told POLITICO's E&E News that he will attempt to fit the deregulatory language into a future reconciliation package — even if he has to continue to push for it alone on the Senate side. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he wants to do at least one, and potentially two, more reconciliation bills while Republicans have control of both chambers of Congress. 'I feel like, had we had more time, we could have worked out some of the bugs on ['REINS'],' Lee said. 'Even that adverse parliamentarian ruling is one that I think we could work through. That's a potential option.' On the House side, Cammack said she is preparing for 'all sorts of contingencies' when it comes to 'REINS.' Her next step is to put a standalone version of the bill on the House floor, where she predicts it will pass. She is also incorporating 'REINS' language into appropriations bills in the House. Johnson's office did not respond to request for comment about the effort. Neither of the appropriations bills passed by the House so far — Defense and Military Construction-VA — include language related to rulemaking authority. But the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, released last week, includes language barring new rules that are deemed by the White House to cost over $100 million or pose 'a major increase in costs or prices' for individuals, industries or government agencies. In a news release, the House Appropriations Committee said that the Financial Services bill 'codif[ies] the Regulations in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which curbs unelected bureaucrats from having unfettered regulatory power.' Although that language will likely pass the House, it may struggle to gain sufficient support in the Senate. If it does get stripped out of the appropriations process, Cammack is already looking toward using a second reconciliation process as a shot for 'REINS.' 'We're obviously very interested in a second attempt at a reconciliation process, especially given the fact that the Senate parliamentarian was green-lighting our language and then decided in the eleventh hour that she wasn't going to,' Cammack said. GOP skepticism Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) at the Capitol in June. Despite his support for 'REINS,' he's skeptical of it passing in the current environment. | Francis Chung/POLITICO While Lee and Cammack are optimistic, other Senate Republicans remain doubtful that a parliamentarian ruling would change in a future reconciliation package. 'I don't know why it would change,' Paul said. 'I would like to get ['REINS'] passed. But short of getting 60 Republicans or Democrats having an epiphany, you know, it's hard to pass legislation.' Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) is similarly skeptical that 'REINS' could be included in a future reconciliation package. 'I just don't know how you'd word it so that it was budgetary,' he said. Still, he said, it remains important that Republicans keep pushing for major regulatory rollbacks. 'The 'REINS Act' is one of those things that puts a check on the co-equal branches of government. For me, it would be a very high legislative priority if we could get it done,' he said. This story also appears in Climatewire.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
U.S. House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote
U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives for an early morning strategy session with the Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week's legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamouring for a vote. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House 'space' to release the Epstein information on its own, despite the bipartisan push for legislation that aims to force the release of more documents. 'There's no purpose for the Congress to push an administration to do something they're already doing,' Johnson said at his weekly news conference, his last before lawmakers depart Washington on Wednesday for their traditional August recess. The speaker's stance did little to alleviate the intra-party turmoil unfolding on Capitol Hill as many of U.S. President Donald Trump's supporters demand that the administration meet its promises to publicly release a full accounting of the sex trafficking investigation into Epstein, who killed himself in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Under pressure from right-wing online influencers, as well as voters back home, rank-and-file Republicans are demanding that the House intervene in the matter. 'The public's not going to let this die, and rightfully so,' said Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican. Will Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition happen? Even before Johnson spoke Tuesday morning, the powerful House Committee on Oversight was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, for a deposition. The Republican chair of the committee, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said there will be a negotiation with Maxwell's attorney over the terms of the deposition and that it could happen at the prison where she is serving a lengthy sentence for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The U.S. Justice Department also indicated Tuesday it was separately seeking to interview Maxwell. While Democrats on the House Oversight Committee supported the action, the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, warned that her testimony should be treated with skepticism. 'We should be looking and continue to push for a full release of the files,' Garcia told reporters. 'I think it's important for people to know that she obviously is a documented liar and someone that has caused enormous harm to young girls and women.' Trump didn't address the issue during a reception for House Republicans at the White House on Tuesday night but heaped praise on Johnson, saying he would 'go down as one of the great speakers at any time in history.' In remarks alongside Trump, Johnson made no mention of it either. Speaker Johnson's control of the House is under threat Johnson decided to end the House's legislative business early this week after he essentially lost control of the powerful House Rules Committee, which sends bills to the floor for debates and votes. Late Monday evening, business on that panel ground to a halt when the Republicans on the committee abruptly recessed proceedings rather than risk more proposals from Democrats pushing them to release Epstein files. Republicans had teed up votes on legislation to increase penalties for migrants who enter the country illegally, to ease permitting for water infrastructure and to roll back several Biden-era regulations. All those bills were put on hold, at least until after the August recess. Frustration in the House has been running high since last week, when Republican leaders signaled possible support for a vote on the Epstein files as they raced to pass a US$9-billion package of spending cuts. Johnson unveiled a resolution that has no legal weight but would urge the Justice Department to produce more documentation. Trump, meanwhile, has asked U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of testimony from secret grand jury proceedings in the case, though that effort is unlikely to produce new revelations. Echoing Trump's position, Johnson insisted he, too, wants the files released, but only those that are 'credible.' Johnson, who has relied heavily on Trump to hold onto leadership in the House, cast the president's reticence to release information as out of concern for the victims of Epstein. 'We have a moral responsibility to expose the evil of Epstein and everybody who was involved in that — absolutely — and we're resolved to do it,' Johnson said. 'But we also have an equal moral responsibility to protect the innocent, and that is a fine needle to thread.' In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also told reporters he believed Trump and Bondi would 'make the right decisions' on the files, but opened the door to committees examining the matter. Epstein has become a political wedge among GOP Even with the month-long break, the pressure on Johnson is unlikely to end. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican whose contrarian stances are often a thorn in the side of leadership, is gathering support for a legislative manoeuvre to force the bipartisan bill to a House vote, even without leadership's consent. 'Now, there are a lot of people here in the swamp who think that, 'Oh, well, if we spend five weeks on vacation, the pressure for this will dissipate. I don't think it's going to dissipate.'' Massie told reporters Monday evening. Democrats have watched it all unfold with glee and worked to inflame the conflict among Republicans by making their own calls for transparency on the Epstein investigation. They have repeatedly tried to force votes on the matter, casting it as an issue of trust in the government. 'It's about transparency in government. It's about whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, protecting men? Or are you on the side of young girls and America's children?' said Rep. Ro Khanna, the California Democrat who put forward the legislation alongside Massie. Epstein sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. He couldn't have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion, prosecutors contend. Massie said the case is palpable enough to carry significant political consequences. 'This will be an issue that does follow Republicans through the midterms, and it will follow each individual Republican through the midterms. It will follow people into their primaries. Did you support transparency and justice, or did you come up here, get elected and fall into the swamp?' he told reporters. He added, 'I think it is a watershed moment for the speaker of the House and the president.' ___ Stephen Groves And Lisa Mascaro, The Associated Press
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Speaker Johnson refuses to allow Epstein vote as House set to recess early
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., arrives for an early morning strategy session with the Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week's legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House 'space' to release the Epstein information on its own, despite the bipartisan push for legislation that would require more records to be released. 'There's no purpose for the Congress to push an administration to do something they're already doing,' Johnson said at his weekly press conference, his last before lawmakers depart Washington on Wednesday for their traditional August recess. Echoing President Donald Trump's position, Johnson insisted he, too, wants the files released, but only those that are 'credible.' ADVERTISEMENT The speaker's stance seemed unlikely to satisfy many GOP members who are threatening to support a bipartisan bill meant to pry information from the Justice Department. Even before Johnson spoke, a Republican-controlled subcommittee of the powerful House Committee on Oversight was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, for a deposition. The intra-party turmoil on Capitol Hill unfolded as many of Donald Trump's supporters have been outraged at how his administration has reneged on promises to publicly release a full accounting of the sex trafficking investigation into Epstein, who killed himself in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Under pressure from right-wing online influencers, as well as voters back home, rank-and-file Republicans are demanding that the House intervene in the matter. 'The public's not going to let this die, and rightfully so,' said Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican. Johnson decided to end the House's legislative business early this week after he essentially lost control of the powerful House Rules Committee, which sends bills to the floor for debates and votes. Late Monday evening business on that panel ground to a halt when the Republicans on the House Rules Committee abruptly recessed proceedings rather than risk more proposals from Democrats pushing them to release Epstein files. Republican leaders last week had signaled possible support for a vote on the Epstein files, putting forward a resolution that has no legal weight but urged the Justice Department to produce more documentation. Trump too has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of testimony from secret grand jury proceedings in the case, though that effort is unlikely to produce new revelations. ADVERTISEMENT Johnson, who has relied heavily on Trump to hold onto leadership in the House, cast the president's reticence to release information as out of concern for the victims of Epstein. 'We have a moral responsibility to expose the evil of Epstein and everybody who was involved in that — absolutely — and we're resolved to do it,' Johnson said. 'But we also have an equal moral responsibility to protect the innocent, and that is a fine needle to thread.' Epstein, sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. He couldn't have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion, prosecutors say. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case at
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
McConnell Laments ‘Big Setback' as GOP Senator Bows Out of Midterms
Mitch McConnell has new fears about the future of the Republican Party. The former Senate Majority Leader, 83, took to X Monday afternoon to lament the sudden retirement of Republican Senator and Trump adversary Thom Tillis, calling it a 'big setback for the Senate and the Republican Conference.' Tillis, a senator from North Carolina, shocked supporters on Sunday when he announced he would not seek reelection in 2026, after days of publicly clashing with President Trump over the Big Beautiful Bill. The senator, 64, was one of two Republican senators, alongside Rand Paul, to vote against the bill on Saturday. In a statement posted to X that afternoon, Tillis said he feared the bill's cuts to Medicaid would be 'devastating' for his constituents. On Saturday, the president bashed Senator Tillis on Truth Social for being one of two Republican senators to vote against the bill, warning he was 'Making a BIG MISTAKE for America.' Trump also said he would meet with Republicans hoping to challenge Tillis in the Senate primary next year, and hoped to find 'someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina.' Trump posted again about Tillis on Sunday, just hours before the senator's surprise announcement, calling him a 'talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!' In response, Tillis sent the President a text, later shared with The Hill, reading, 'Mr. President… Start thinking about my replacement.' However, the prospect of replacing Tillis has sparked anxiety for many Republicans. Though Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, is reportedly already considering a run to replace Tillis in her home state, many Republicans fear that without an incumbent, the seat is now vulnerable to being overtaken by a Democrat in the 2026 midterms. The 2026 race had been considered a likely win for Tillis. Since his announcement, however, several nonpartisan pollsters, including the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, have marked the seat as a 'toss-up' that is 'vulnerable to a Democratic takeover.' Tillis isn't the only Republican Trump adversary to bow out ahead of next year's midterms. On Monday morning, Don Bacon, a five-term Republican House Representative from Nebraska, also announced he would not seek reelection in 2026. Bacon's announcement generated similar concerns from Republicans that a Democrat could take control of his seat, as his district is considered a 'blue dot' in the otherwise heavily Republican state. Hours after announcing he would step down, Tillis took to the Senate floor for a fiery speech condemning both the Big Beautiful Bill and the president, whom he called 'misinformed' for believing it would not impact Medicaid funding. 'I'm telling the president that you have been misinformed. You supporting the Senate mark will hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid,' said Tillis on the Senate Floor. Tillis told reporters Sunday night, 'I respect President Trump, I support the majority of his agenda, but I don't bow to anybody when the people of North Carolina are at risk, and this puts them at risk.'
The Hill
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Senate Republican : ‘I would retire, too, if I voted against' GOP megabill
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) took aim at Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) Monday after the North Carolina Republican announced he would not run for reelection in the wake of coming out against President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' 'I would retire too if I voted against this bill because everyone in Indiana is counting on it. Tillis voted against it anyway, so that's a moot point,' Banks said during a Fox & Friends appearance. Tillis was one of two Republicans to vote against advancing the bill on Saturday, and vowed to vote against final passage as well over concerns about the impact Medicaid cuts would have on North Carolina. Tillis announced Sunday that he would not run again, opening up a closely contested seat that the Democrats have attempted to flip for years. Tillis' opposition to the bill earned him the ire of the president, with Trump suggesting that he would back a primary challenge against the two-term lawmaker. And Banks pushed back on Tillis' concerns about the megabill's cuts to Medicaid in another Fox & Friends appearance Sunday. In his Fox & Friends appearance on Monday, Banks maintained the GOP line that the bill would create significant tax cuts that would benefit working families. 'This bill is so good and so strong. It's a common sense vote,' Banks said. After a long weekend of negotiations that included a Democratic move to force the chamber's clerks to read the entire 940 pages of the bill out loud, Senate Republicans are grinding towards a final vote. Senators are currently in a 'vote-a-rama,' where they can propose unlimited amendments to the legislation. While Banks took aim at Tillis, other GOP senators reacted more warmly to the lawmaker's exit. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), the former Republican leader, wrote Monday morning that Tillis was 'one of the most effective and collegial members that I have ever served with in the United States Senate.' 'His announcement is a big setback for the Senate and the Republican Conference,' McConnell wrote.
