nority Leader John A. Boehner on Friday endorsed a one-year moratorium on almost all new federal regulations, an idea he said would create jobs by ending uncertainty among businesses fearful of new federal mandates.

Boehner made the suggestion in the Capitol after a 90-minute session with a group of business leaders gathered as part of America Speaking Out, the House Republicans' effort to solicit ideas across the country for a fall campaign platform.

One of the participants at the roundtable raised the idea and Boehner said afterward, "Having a moratorium on new federal regulations is a great idea. It sends a wonderful signal to the private sector that they'll have some breathing room."

Boehner said the only exception he might foresee would be for emergencies. But such a moratorium would stop implementation of the new health care overhaul and the financial regulation package (HR 4173 -- H Rept 111-157) that got final congressional approval on Thursday but has yet to be signed by President Obama.

The Ohio Republican has already said he wants both those laws repealed and replaced with what he calls "common-sense solutions" that do not overly burden business.

Federal agencies issue thousands of regulations annually affecting just about every sector of the economy.