In recent weeks the Castle Country Business Expansion and Retention general meetings have begun to take on a deep educational tone as Russell Goodrich and Robert Powell have begun the teach the entrepreneurial course “Who owns the Ice House?”
On May 12 however, while the course was continued, the beginning of the meeting was changed because two visiting staffers from Utah Senator Mike Lee’s office joined the group to talk about what they can do to help his constituents.
Donna Sackett, who used to work for the late Senator Bob Bennett in the local area introduced herself to the group as the Constituent Liaison for Lee’s office.
“My job is to listen to the people in the district and I deal a lot with public lands issues, labor, the IRS and I work to coordinate efforts with the state government as well,” she explained to the group.
She then introduced Matt Holton, who is also from the Senator’s office, but is the Director of Business Outreach for the Senator.
“I am very new and to be honest I did not know about the strong mining connection in this area,” he said. “Unfortunately when it comes to the war on coal, there is only so much anyone can do about it.”
However not all is lost he told the group. Much of the pressure on the coal industry is coming from regulatory agencies, particularly the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Senator Lee is pushing the Reins Act to help get it through Congress,” said Holton. “That would take power away from the EPA and give it to the legislative branch instead of the administration.”
The Reins Act is a bill which would limit the power of federal regulatory agencies on many matters by making them come to Congress to get approval for changes in proposed regulations. It would mean on any regulation which would have an economic impact of $100 million or more, the measure would have to be studied and voted on by Congress in an up and down vote. It would also have to be signed by the President. Congress and the President would have only 70 days to study, vote on and sign the measure or the regulation could not be put in place.
“After my visit with the people in this area I now have more passion than ever when it comes to getting rid of regulatory moves against business,” concluded Holton.