Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was one of only a handful of Republican Members to press President Obama on jobs at today’s meeting at the White House. “Most Americans, at least from what I’m hearing, do not agree with the President’s handling of the economy. They’re frustrated with the reckless spending in Washington and concerned about the direction of our fragile economy. They’re certainly wondering why the Administration is making it harder for energy producers to operate when gas and utility prices have skyrocketed,” stated Capito after returning from the White House. Capito specifically asked the President about the EPA and laid out how the agency’s actions are killing jobs and job growth throughout West Virginia and the rest of the country. Capito said that the EPA should have to consider economic impact and jobs, as well as environmental impact, when making decisions. The President agreed.
“Specificallyin West Virginia, we have two things on our mind: out-of-control spending and an out-of-control EPA. I asked the President why the EPA is preventing job growth, and he said that if there is a law on the books that is preventing an agency from considering economic impact, then the law should be changed,” continued Capito.
Last month, Capito introduced H.R. 1872, the “Employment Protection Act,” which would require the Environmental Protection Agency to take into account jobs and economic activity prior to issuing a regulation, policy statement, guidance, implementing any new or substantially altered program, or issuing or denying any permit—essentially any action taken by the EPA.