John Mica: “Yesterday when you, my colleagues, voted by a significant margin to defeat the rule, the traditional course of business…”

“Yesterday when you, my colleagues, voted by a significant margin to defeat the rule, the traditional course of business in the House of Representatives was altered. This I believe was a historic action and hopefully a turning point. For even a casual observer of our proceedings will note that an idea--a new concept won the day. That is remarkable in a Chamber where seniority and raw political power often reign. Maybe it was the influence of 2 months of being home with the people who sent us here. Somehow a commonsense idea like risk assessment won the hearts, minds, support, and votes of you, my colleagues. Together we made a statement that this Nation cannot continue to be choked by aimless Government regulation. We came together to say that there is a better way to conduct the business of the people, especially today with our limited Federal resources that are taken from the toil and hard work of our citizens. A commonsense idea prevailed that we should conduct an examination of the potential risk and the cost to the taxpayer and weigh that carefully against the benefit to public health and safety and the welfare of our environment. Even powerful partisan forces and bureaucratic turf protectors were cast aside for an idea whose time has come. Those who lost this vote should not view this as a defeat, but rather an opportunity. If we work together to restructure Government, we can incorporate new ideas. We can make Government and the regulatory process work.”