WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Thursday were in line to pass legislation that would freeze major government regulations until the unemployment rate, now at 8.2 percent, drops to 6 percent or below. The latest GOP attempt to rein in Obama administration's rulemaking, like previous anti-regulation bills, is virtually certain to die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

In familiar arguments, Republicans contended that unelected bureaucrats are costing businesses time and money and preventing hiring. Democrats countered that consumer protection, health care, aid to veterans, food safety and workplace rules would suffer if Washington cannot regulate these areas.

Some earlier Republican bills were aimed at specific regulations, including environmental ones. But this latest legislation would affect proposed rules across the board and rival the scope a measure passed last December that would give Congress the power to approve any major regulation from the executive branch.