Tim Walberg: “Last November the people of Michigan, workers that long defined manufacturing, sent a message to Washington that…”

“Last November the people of Michigan, workers that long defined manufacturing, sent a message to Washington that business as usual in this town is not working. Currently, the unemployment rate in my home State is at 11.7 percent and even higher in some counties in my Seventh Congressional District. Over the past 2 years, we have witnessed burdensome laws being imposed on businesses and still feel the threat of costly regulation that prevents companies from growing and hiring. Small businesses are the engine of job creation in this country. Even the current administration believes 'that they bear a disproportionate share of Federal regulatory burden.' The Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration reports the total cost of Federal regulation has increased to $1.75 trillion. The cost per employee for businesses with fewer than 20 workers now averages $10,585. A Heritage Foundation study found last year alone the Federal Government issued 43 major regulations, with costs estimated in tens of billions of dollars. Onerous rules and regulations should not be a roadblock to job creation and economic growth.”