December 9, 2011

EPA and the Economy: Seeing Green?

What effect does the EPA have on the economy? Do EPA regulations create or kill jobs? What is the place for environmental action and improvement in challenging economic times?

Supporters of EPA note that the agency is responsible for only 0.06 percent of the United States' national debt and 0.26 percent of the federal government's budget and argue that cutting environmental spending could make our economy worse by increasing medical costs if the agency lacks the resources to enforce laws that protect public health. Opponents argue that the EPA regulatory process has exploded, creating so much red tape for businesses that they are unable to hire workers and stimulate our economy.

This seminar examined the effect of the EPA on the economy and jobs. Expert panelists discussed the economic ramifications of EPA’s regulations, whether regulations create or kill jobs, and recent legislative attempts—such as the REINS Act, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2011, and the use of the Congressional Review Act—to increase Congressional oversight and restrain EPA action.

Speakers:
John Cruden, President, Environmental Law Institute (moderator)
Ken Green, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
Richard Morgenstern, Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
Mary Neumayr, Senior Energy Counsel, Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives
Isaac Shapiro, Director of Regulatory Policy Research, Economic Policy Institute

Materials:
Isaac Shapiro, powerpoint
Members may log on to access mp3 recording.