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Chuck Fleischmann recognized for fighting “absurd” & costly government regulation

August 4, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Chuck Fleischmann has been recognized by the conservative Republican Study Committee for the bill he introduced, with Congressman Scott DesJarlais, to rollback an unfunded mandate on local Tennessee counties. New standards put forth by the Federal Highway Administration would require Tennessee counties to update and replace road signs by 2015 and 2018. The Tennessee County Highway Officials Association estimates this accelerated schedule could cost local governments $50 million.

Congressman Fleischmann and Congressman DesJarlais have introduced legislation in the House, to match legislation introduced by Senators Alexander and Corker, to wave the new timeline, and allow local governments to meet the new standards when they replace signs at the end of their natural life cycle.

The Republican Study Committee has given Congressman Fleischmann their award that “highlights absurd – yet obscure – government regulations.”

“I am honored to be recognized by the Republican Study Committee in my fight for fiscally responsible governance, but more importantly, I am glad to be given the chance to once again highlight the absurd unfunded mandate put in place by the Federal Highway Administration,” Fleischmann said.

“As I have said, the federal government is once again placing an undue burden on states when they can least afford it. While this Administration, and their departments, might have the mindset of ‘tax, borrow, spend’, local governments cannot do the same. At a time when they are working to be fiscally responsible, and balance their budgets, the federal government is telling them to spend money they don’t have. This award I have been given is a chance to place the spotlight on costly government regulations and the need to get rid of them.”

The Republican Study Committee is comprised of over 175 of some of the most conservative members of Congress. To read more about the award given to Congressman Fleischmann, click here.