Maybe some of that's coming to an end, although as usual, Congress is trying to blame the Administration for Congress' own laziness, lack of courage, and desire for re-election through political statements rather than hard-nosed decision-making.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for major regulations issued by federal agencies.
...It would require every major rule proposed by federal agencies to be approved by a joint resolution passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president before it could take effect.
"Major rule" uses $100 million in economic effect as a trigger, or would cause large price increases, or would have 'significant effects' on the economy.
The proposal is more 'hat' than 'cattle;' and there's a reason for that.
Congress typically passes bills which require the regulators/agencies to do the dirty work. That way, Congressmen get re-elected for their political foofoodust-throwing ability, and citizens get screwed blue and tattooed by "regulators."
There's more to this story, though, which should be highlighted.
Republicans supporting the bill point to a recent report by the Small Business Administration, which said the annual cost of federal regulations in the U.S. increased to more than $1.75 trillion in 2009. According to that report, if every U.S. household had paid an equal share of the federal regulatory burden, each would have owed $15,586 in 2008.
Further, a Heritage Foundation study showed that the Code of Federal Regulations – a compendium of all existing federal rules – hit a record 163,333 pages in 2009, an increase of 22,000 pages since the beginning of the decade.
Actual Conservatives have a great deal of work to do. Holding Congresscritters responsible for their legislation would be a gigantic step forward.
"Regulatory reform" is only a small part of the process.
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