DARKE COUNTY – Business groups are calling on the U.S. Senate to pass legislation curbing costly regulations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday sent a letter to members of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voicing broad support for the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015.

The letter urged that federal regulations be supported by strong and credible data and evidence, and be narrowly tailored and should impose the least burden possible. The letter received enthusiastic support from a broad coalition of 387 co-signing groups from every state.

“The Darke County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Legislative Committee voted unanimously to join in signing the U.S. Chamber letter to the U.S. Senate,” said Chamber President Sharon Deschambeau.

Others in Ohio that joined in signing the letter were the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber,

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Flexible Pavements of Ohio, Forging Industry Association,

Heating, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), Industrial Fasteners Institute, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Ohio Cast Metals Association, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Coal Association, and Ohio Forestry Association.

The bill would force federal agencies to do a cost-benefit analysis and adopt the least costly or most cost-effective approach when a proposed rule carries an economic impact over $1 billion annually. The legislation also calls for on-the-record administrative hearings on the most costly regulations and for rules to be more rigorously tested when challenged in court.

According to Deschambeau, the Darke County Chamber believes the proposed bill, S.2006, would improve the accountability and the integrity of the regulatory process.

“Our Chamber supports improving and modernizing the regulatory process on behalf of the chamber membership and the local business community,” she said.

The bill was introduced by Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and is co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and David Perdue (R-Ga.).

A copy of the U.S. Chamber letter with 387 co-signatures can be found on the Darke County Chamber website at http://www.darkecountyohio.com in the news articles. President Obama has already threatened to veto the legislation, which passed the House in January.