Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) tells MSNBC regulations create jobs because a business will have to hire people to help them comply with the new requirement.
"I think the answer is no," Ellison said when asked if he believes regulations kill jobs. "And here is why: When we talked about increasing fuel efficiency standards, the industry responded, and they need engineers and designers and manufacturers, and they need actually more people to help respond to the new requirement."
Ellison’s deep thoughts are not some kind of aberration. On the contrary, Ellison’s message is right on the party line. IBD catches President Obama, Senators Barbara Boxer and Ben Cardin, the EPA, and Paul Krugman all conveying the same line in one way or another. IBD makes the definitive comment: “[I]f regulations were job-creation engines, the economy should be in danger of overheating right about now. Obama has overseen the fastest growth in new federal rules ever, imposing 75 new major regulations in his first 26 months in office at a cost of more than $40 billion, according to the Heritage Foundation.”
Sure, we need some basic, reasonable safety and environmental rules. But we've long since passed the point of reasonableness. And despite what Democrats might think, we are now paying for it with sluggish growth, high unemployment and higher prices for everyone.
