Politicians, advocates question Sen. Portman’s regulatory reform bill

By Justin Wier

jwier@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Advocates gathered at the Mahoning County Courthouse Thursday to voice their opposition to the Regulatory Accountability Act, which U.S. Sen. Rob Portman introduced in the Senate earlier this year.

Karen Zehr, a founding member of Valley Voices United for Change which organized the news conference, said the legislation is threatening to the area’s communities. Portman, a Cincinnati-area Republican, is continuing to represent special interests to give business a licenses to pollute, Zehr said.

She cited the BP oil spill in Louisiana, the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and the Wall Street crash of 2008 as examples of why regulatory agencies are necessary.

“We are facing an epidemic of corporate wrongdoing,” Zehr said.

The legislation, which Portman introduced with Democratic U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota in April, requires cost-benefit analysis of major new regulations and aims to improve transparency and accountability in the regulatory process by requiring public hearings and other measures.

The bipartisan legislation would only apply cost-benefit analysis to regulations that have an economic effect of $100 million or greater, which estimates put between 30 and 40 regulations per year.

The legislation would result in smarter rules and better outcomes, Portman said.

“This will boost job creation and economic growth while continuing to protect public health and safety and the environment,” he added. “That will benefit all of us.”

But local advocates argue it could make it harder for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to fight the opioid crisis and for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to keep lead out of water.

David Green, a former president of United Autoworkers Local 1714 in Lordstown, said safety isn’t free.

“Sen. Portman’s bill has potential to roll back safety regulations and impede new regulations,” he said.

Austintown Township Trustee Ken Carano agreed, arguing the bill would have a harmful effect on Americans everywhere by corrupting agencies that protect public health, safety and welfare.

“[Portman] forgotten that his No. 1 priority is to serve the public, not corporate America,” Carano said.

The group also encouraged Portman to have a town hall in the area to address this and other issues.