Jason Chaffetz: “I do appreciate working with my colleagues on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. We disagree on many things…”

“I do appreciate working with my colleagues on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. We disagree on many things, but we have good debates, and I do appreciate the spirit in which Mr. Connolly brings this amendment forward. I enjoy working with the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett), and certainly our ranking member, Mr. Cummings. I try to accept and work with the minority on all things, but certainly amendments that they would like to see move forward. Unfortunately, I am going to have to oppose this one. I am trying to maximize transparency. I think what Mr. Mitchell is bringing forward in this bill is the right policy in opening up this transparency. I see this going in the wrong direction. It would remove existing requirements for agencies, such as the EPA or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to give notice about upcoming regulations. It removes existing requirements, for instance, for the EPA to submit its rules to OIRA for review. In a March 2015 hearing, in fact, it was Mr. Connolly of Virginia who said: ``OIRA boasts an incredibly hardworking, and dedicated corps of career staff that is first-rate when it comes to conducting quantitative analysis that weighs complex economic costs against potential benefits.'' I happen to agree with Mr. Connolly. I think there are good, hardworking, and dedicated people who are committed to this country, and they work hard.…”