The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted down an amendment to a regulations bill that would have exempted gun control rules from congressional review.

The amendment was proposed by Democrats during a markup of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) introduced the add-on during a committee markup on Wednesday and began to read a 41-page document listing all the school shootings in the United States since 1997.

“The REINS Act would create yet another barrier to protecting our schools and children,” Chu said.

The federal government is permanently placing a drug popularly known as “bath salts” on its list of most dangerous substances.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is formally classifying the drug methylone as a Schedule 1 substance. The designation brings tough penalties for possession and distribution of the drug.

By using its most restrictive category, the DEA has determined that methlyone has no medical use and could be easily abused.

Tensions were high on Thursday as the House Judiciary Committee considered an amendment to GOP legislation that would give Congress the power to review major rules.

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act was a GOP favorite during the last Congress, and its reintroduction in January has already attracted 148 co-sponsors, all of which are Republican.

Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) introduced two amendments during the House Judiciary Committee markup of the bill, which were eventually combined. The amendment — which failed in a 17-15 vote — would have exempted regulations from the Dodd-Frank financial reform law from congressional review, including rules drafted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Watt said the complex financial rules should not face “micromanagement” from Congress. “This is a preview of what’s to come” if Congress obtains the powers outlined in the REINS Act, he said during a spirited exchange with Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.).

After pushback from outside groups, the federal government is proposing to relax its rules on tanks used to store liquids at oil and natural-gas production sites.

The forthcoming bill would create a distinction between community credit unions and big banks in the eyes of regulators.

Recreational use of the drugs, known on the street by names like “Spice” and “K2,” has exploded.

Meetings from a whole host of agencies will be announced in Friday's Federal Register:

Portions of a Federal Aviation Authority private sector advisory committee are meeting April 9-10, May 8 and May 13-17.

There are a couple of law and order regulations scheduled for Friday's Federal Register, plus a proposal for rural phone calls and grants for renewable energy systems. Here are the major issues:

Drugs:
The Drug Enforcement Administration is classifying "bath salts" and proposing to register three synthetic cannabis varieties as Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other federal agencies face mounting pressure to issue guidance to businesses about the limitations of social media use, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Seeking to appease regulators, some banks are shifting risk to other institutions, according to The New York Times.

Newly (and mistakenly) released Fed minutes portray a divided Federal Open Market Committee on the issue of Treasury bond buying, The Washington Post reports.

President Obama’s selection to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to face questioning Thursday at a confirmation hearing, has thus far avoided significant opposition from Republicans, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, Sally Jewell, Obama’s Interior Secretary pick, was confirmed easily Wednesday by an 87-11 tally, The Hill’s Floor Action Blog reports.

In China, regulators pulled Quentin Tarantino’s acclaimed but uber-violent “Django Unchained” from theaters, according to Forbes.

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