Regulatory Reform

Support a balanced, transparent regulatory system that doesn’t hinder economic growth and stifle job creation.

The Obama Administration has largely relied on regulations to move forward on its agenda. This year promises to be full of contentious fights over scores of new rules stemming from the President’s climate regulations, health care, Dodd-Frank and a host of other new costly regulations.

  • Federal regulations cost $1.82 trillion in 2011 according to a study conducted for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy.
  • Significantly more regulation is on the way, with 131 additional rules in the pipeline. These include dozens of more rules for implementing Dodd–Frank and the Affordable Care Act.
  • We support legislation that reforms the system by restoring checks and balances, allowing public participation, upholding the rule of law and ensuring good governance.

Of particular concern are:

  • OSHA’s proposal to improve injury and illness tracking. This proposal would require businesses to report injury and illness data more often, submit reports in new electronic formats, and allow the agency to release the raw data in a publicly searchable database. OSHA has failed to explain adequately how collecting the information actually will improve workplace safety or how OSHA will manage the information once it is collected.
  • National Labor Relations Board’s pursuit of its Ambush Election rule. This rule would shorten union election times; thus, making less time available for employers and employees to communicate about forthcoming union elections and its impact.

PMI Supports:

  1. H.R. 2804 - “Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency (ALERRT) Act,” requires federal agencies to submit monthly and annual reports of planned new rulemakings they will propose or finalize to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). OIRA would release information about these upcoming rules, including their estimated costs and benefits, to the public.
  2. H.R. 2641 - “Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act” would improve the environmental review and permitting process and go a long way to ensure concurrent review by agencies, rather than waiting for one agency to finish its work before another begins.

For information: PMI Washington Office - Stephanie Salmon - ssalmon@pmihome.org – 202-452-7135.