What do we know? We’d not given much attention to U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin’s gimmick legislation splashed across page one of the Democrat-Gazette this morning because 1) it’s not going to pass the Senate and 2) it’s been derided as nothing but a political ploy by a broad spectrum of commentators, including a former Republican congressman and a former economist for the Reagan and Bush 1 administration.

I did note that DINO Rep. Mike Ross, already hard at work as a quasi-lobbyist for the electric power industry, threw in with a dozen other DINOs to vote for Griffin’s legislation to prevent implementation of new federal regulation until the unemployment rate drops to 6 percent (now at 8.2 percent). The Chamber of Commerce likes it because it would increase its members’ retained profits, though not put anyone back to work.

Advertisement

Republican Griffin’s Democratic opponent, Herb Rule, weighs in today with many of the good reasons to see the legislation as the farce it is, among them that the freeze on federal regulation could actually harm implementation of rules useful to people in Arkansas — such as health and veterans benefits and the duck hunting season.

His release follows:

Advertisement

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Arkansas to reap $4.3 million in national drug pricing lawsuit Next article Datsaburger doesn’t quite make it