OIRA@2050

Editor’s Note:  The GAO report “Dodd-Frank Act: Agencies’ Efforts to Analyze and Coordinate Their Rules” is attached here.’

From: GAO

According to the regulators, most interagency coordination is informal and conducted at the staff level. GAO’s review of selected rules shows that differences between related rules may remain even when coordination occurs. According to regulators, such differences may result from differences in their jurisdictions or the markets. Finally, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) has not yet implemented GAO’s previous recommendation to work with regulators to establish formal interagency coordination policies.

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From: Albany Tribune

The White House released Friday two reports that summarize the progress made under two initiatives launched with Canada, that highlight how the two governments have worked together over the past year in a concerted way to advance perimeter security and economic competitiveness.

President Obama and Prime Minister Harper of Canada met on December 7, 2011 at the White House and announced two initiatives to ensure that the vital economic partnership that joins the United States and Canada continues to be the cornerstone of our economic competitiveness and security — the Beyond the Border (BTB) Action Plan and the Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) Action Plan.

From: Fox News

By Chris Stirewalt

“We’ve been disappointed that [President] Obama has been a tepid regulator.”

— Randy Rabinowitz, director of regulatory policy at liberal group OMB Watch, talking to the Associated Press about a slew of new regulations from the Obama administration.

Republicans are finding some rays of sunshine this morning in new polls that show they may be starting to turn the tide of public perceptions on the fight over the “fiscal cliff.”

From: American Thinker

Rick Moran

Via  Pat Hynes lobbying and PR shop, an  excellent round up of articles on what they are calling the “regulatory cliff”  that has almost completely been ignored by the media and even most  conservatives.

A  few examples:

Though  the fiscal cliff dominates headlines, Team Obama’s rapid expansion of  regulations cannot be ignored. “The growing cost of regulations  has been hidden from the headlines behind the fiscal cliff, but they should  not be ignored.” [Sam Batkins, “Lame duck regulatory deluge could top $100  billion,” American Action Forum, 11/27/2012. http://bit.ly/RiL7Yq]

From: The Strategic Sourceror

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently announced that agency spending fell dramatically in the past year, due to the implementation of more strategic sourcing practices. Business magazine Government Executive reported that spending dropped $20 billion with new procurement techniques in place.

This comes only shortly after an October report from the Government Accountability Office revealed that various agencies not practicing strategic sourcing were missing out on billions in potential savings.

Big savings due to new practices

Editor’s Note:  The complete Working Paper, “Regressive Effects of Regulation” is attached here.  Below is the Abstract and a portion of the Introduction.

From: Mercatus Center/George Mason University

By Diana Thomas

From: Federal Computer Week

By Robert D. Atkinson, Stephen J. Ezell

Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage,” published in September by Yale University Press, explores the conditions that have caused the United States to fall behind other countries in the competition for the innovation advantage.

Authors Robert D. Atkinson and Stephen J. Ezell assess a wide range of factors to understand the challenges the country faces in regaining its position as a leader in innovation. Atkinson is founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and Ezell is a senior analyst there.

From: US News and World Report

By Patrick McLaughlin

President Obama’s re-election would normally mean there is no need to be concerned about “midnight regulations,” the surge in regulatory activity that occurs during the lame duck period of an outgoing presidential administration. However, according to insiders and experts on regulation, we may yet witness a post-election spike in rule-making that is similar to what we have historically seen after the Oval Office changed hands. Welcome to Washington, where even broad daylight can be made to appear like midnight.

Editor’s Note:  Applying flexibility in implementing regulations affecting small business to assist those businesses is exemplary policy.  Agencies should take note of OMB’s action.

From: GovWin Network/Deltek

by Lourdes Martin-Rosa

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced in July that it is expanding the Quick Pay plan that the Obama administration announced in September 2011. Under this accelerated payment plan, agencies are urged to pay their prime contractors in 15 days, instead of 30 days, for a period of one year with the understanding that those companies will pass along those accelerated payments to their small business subcontractors. Officials are also setting clear expectations for prime contractors by making payment habits a future factor in the bid selection process.

Editor’s Note:  Cost-benefit analysis is the foundation of any effective regulatory system.

From: The Technology Liberation Front

By Berin Szoka and Ben Sperry

You’d think it would be harder for government to justify regulating the Internet than the offline world, right? Wrong—sadly. And Congress just missed a chance to fix that problem.

For decades, regulators have been required to issue a cost-benefit analysis when issuing new regulations.  Some agencies are specifically required to do so by statute, but for most agencies, the requirement comes from executive orders issued by each new President—varying somewhat but each continuing the general principle that regulators bear the burden of showing that each regulation’s benefits outweigh its costs.