" There are a lot of regulations that are really just crushing jobs. Look at the coal miners in the Rust Belt that are getting out of work. Look at the – look at the loggers and the timber workers and the paper mills in the West Coast. Look at the ranchers or farmers in the Midwest with regulations. "
- Paul Ryan

In this statement, Paul Ryan points out that numerous regulations are negatively impacting job opportunities across various sectors in the United States. He references coal miners losing their jobs due to stringent environmental laws in the Rust Belt region, loggers and timber workers facing unemployment because of forestry regulations on the West Coast, and ranchers and farmers struggling with agricultural policies in the Midwest.

Beyond its surface meaning, this quote delves into a broader discussion about the balance between regulatory oversight and economic freedom. Ryan’s comments reflect a concern that overregulation can stifle industries by imposing costs and restrictions that make it difficult for businesses to operate efficiently or profitably. This perspective highlights the tension between ensuring public safety and environmental protection, on one hand, and fostering job creation and industrial growth, on the other. By drawing attention to specific groups of workers who feel disadvantaged by regulation, Ryan underscores how economic policies can have a direct impact on people's livelihoods.

Paul Ryan is an American politician who served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019 and was previously the Republican Party’s nominee for Vice President in 2012. As a prominent figure in U.S. politics, his views on regulation and its impact on job creation reflect broader conservative economic policies aimed at reducing government intervention in business operations to stimulate employment and economic growth.