We heard a lot from the Presidential campaigns about regulations – not much of it good. So now that our elected officials are back in Washington, some want to put another layer of bureaucracy over those agencies that protect consumers. That just doesn’t make sense.
If this proposed Senate bill passes, it would create a regulatory bottleneck that could dramatically slow any and all rules coming out of the affected agencies, regardless of merit. We’re already waiting for dozens of rules to implement banking reforms that Americans desperately wanted and Congress approved. With this proposal, these waits could be endless.
The Independent Agency Regulatory Analysis Act would require agencies to complete detailed economic analyses before putting forward regulations. These independent agencies – which already have to carefully consider the economic implications of their actions – would then come under the scrutiny the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. With a staff of fewer than 50, this small office is already challenged to meet review deadlines for the agencies already under its purview. To extend its authority would simply lead to additional long delays for crucial consumer protection rules.
The proposal covers key agencies created to protect us from unscrupulous practices and unfair competition: The Federal Communications Commission encourages broadband adoption and oversees media competition; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau protects us from predatory and deceptive lending practices; the Consumer Product Safety Commission monitors some 15,000 products, including toys, cribs, and strollers; and the Federal Trade Commission takes action when business practices are anti-competitive or deceptive.
It’s important that our watchdogs be fast-acting to respond to the latest schemes, tricks and unsafe products in the marketplace. This bill, which could get a hearing before the end of the year, would make government less responsive, not more. Common-sense rules that level the playing field for consumers without slowing economic growth shouldn’t be held up in another layer of bureaucracy. We simply can’t afford the wait.
We don’t need more backlogs to implementation of consumer protections agencies recommendations – we need fewer. Time for our duly elected lawmakers to do their jobs.
This bill is nonsense. I just can’t imagine voting for anyone who would support this. I would urge CU to make sure its members know who in Congress is voting for this legislation so we can be sure to vote against them next time.
Well Geoffrey, I don’t know yet who’s voting for it but here’s who’s sponsering the bill in the 1st place….
* OHIO Senator ROBERT PORTMAN – portman.senate.gov
* VIRGINIA Senator MARK R. WARNER – warner.senate.gov
* MAINE Senator SUSAN COLLINS – collins.senate.gov
Just more Red-Tape delays if this stupid bill passes !!!
Why is it that politicians who say they are against big government, are pro this bill?
We don’t need any more delays for sensible, well thoughtout regulations to maintain a level playing field for 99% of Americans and to limit yet more economic bubbles. It looks like the same greedy bunch and their hopeful copycats are lining up at the trough again by pushing for LESS or NO regulations.
No more bureaucracy. Enough aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews have jobs.
Shame on you, Mark Warner! I have voted for you every chance I got, but that will have to change, I see. How can you support adding additional unneeded bureaucratic layers between what people need and government response? That is a Republican trick, and, I thought, beneath a man of your status. Many of the economic problems we are facing today are the result of removing regulations which stood for years between rapacious, greedy businessmen and the safety of our banking institutions. It is obvious that self-regulation is not possible by these pirates, and they need a firm hand to keep them from destroying our country to fill their own pockets.
Wake up, and ponder which side of this issue you truly wish to be counted on.
We need to have agencies that protect consumers without being hamstrung by unnecessary red tape.
Senators Portman, Collins & Warner–I thought you were on the side of consumers. Have you been bought off by greedy corporations????
Please do the right thing. The thing that in your heart of hearts you know is right. That is why the people elected you to office.
If this bill included increasing the staffing of the OIRA from 500 to 50,000, spread out over the nation so the agency could be hands on, it MIGHT be worth considering.
Don’t put another layer of bureaucracy over those agencies that protect consumers!!!!!!!!!!
No more RED TAPE please, help us, no not hinder our protections from the predatory financial industry. We heard a lot from the Presidential campaigns about regulations – not much of it good. So now that our elected officials are back in Washington, some want to put another layer of bureaucracy over those agencies that protect consumers. That just doesn’t make sense.
No more levels of federal bureaucracy, delays, and failure of consumer protections. America should not be the land of profit through deception, predation, overreaching, trickery, monopolies, and dangerous products.
I agree wholeheartedly, Michelle. Beautifully put, Republicans need to get the message that the people of this country are supposed to run it through their elected officials. It should not be run by privately funded smear campaigns and big money. Even the Supreme Court is caught up in this scheming by the mega-rich to protect their interests at any cost to our country.
This would be a corporation’s dream — even better than a law against it.
This is yet another example of Hypocrisy by those who want to “Shrink Government” but who will do the opposite if it is backed up with plenty of “Campaign Contributions” and the Other Commonly Used Forms of Bribery that have been created for the “Right” Members of Congress.
Enough of Corporations and Lobbyist taking away the consumers rights and adding regulations making it impossible for Johnny Citizen to get any relief or action
Have our politicians no shame? To even think of making things even harder and exposing the consumer, to even more dangers is unthinkable. Unless, your a corrupted politician, who doesn’t care, a wit, about the people and the nation,only his/her selfish self interests.
Where is the petition to sign?! We need to let the Senate know that the people are opposed to this.
I’d like to know the name of the person who introduced this idiotic idea.
Stop already. Citizens need to be able to report abuse and corporations and their representatives/lobbyists need to be held accountable. More layers of red tape and bureaucracy are clearly aimed at protection of the criminal and not of the consumer.
The House and Senate need to “just say no”.
I am ashamed that my Senator, mark Warner would consider hamstringing one of the few protective bodies dedicated to consumers. This will be remembered when he runs again.
Protect the Consumer and not the Corporate Criminal
I’m not just for less fillibustering and layers of protection for the abusers…
…I’m FOR holding these entities fully accountable for thief lapses in all senses of the word! If corporations want to have human rights they need to be held personally ( and colectively) liable for thier negligence, racketeerting, and grand the larceny ( and national security endangerment) perpetrated against us.
So…let’s give them what they’ve asked for! Let’s make them legally and financially, and personally accountable, liable, and fiscally responsible for restitution to the American public…and anyone else they’ve cause harm to and intstitute still fines and damages for being lax enough to allow harmful products to be presented in the marketplace, farm yard, the air, water, and environments we live in.
That kind of big money will account for a huge chunk of revenue to address the national defecit, put funds back into Tue economy, services…and hit them where it hurts them most for a change…in thier bottom line!
Keep it simple, Senator.
Yet another boondoggle to further constipate the government that was created “for the people”, not against them. Another “moneygrab” to block any efforts for meaningful, manageable reforms which are indeed necessary from time to time!
How can we start a petition?
Amen Michelle! I’m with you. Don’t let our representatives off the hook. HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE! Nothing will change if we don’t.
This is one of those carefully crafted, sneaky maneuvers in the up-is-down, black-is-white game that the opponents of any and all care for the common good have mastered. They have far exceeded the 10,000 hours of experience that qualifies one as an expert (cf., Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers). Vigilance is needed because of how covert they are. I strongly believe if the names and institutional affiliations of everyone involved were regularly and widely posted, it would inhibit at least some of this. Any where this is being done?
Are we talking about the same bill?
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3468/text
From what I read it gives the president the power to order compliance by executive order. It’s not like this will automatically be enacted for every regulation that comes forward.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3468 gives it a 5% chance of being enacted.
Did anyone even bother to go a little further and read before commenting here?
Where do I sign?
Not only is this not acceptable to the American public, but in addition to rejecting such legislation….it should be COUNTERED by legislation that will allow bills protecting the American consumer to move more smoothly. The lobbyists and legislators that protect corporate America will not easily let up on their quest to eliminate the average American’s voice and input into our government. They are constantly scheming to pass legislation in their masters favor. We cannot remain behind the power curve in attempting to thwart their next move. It’s time for counter moves on the part of those representitives that truly represent the public; counter moves that will put us on a more level playing field and back in control of our government—–lest we sit and wait for the next tactical attack against workers and consumers.
Just another example of selling the 98% of us down the river for either corporate interests, big oil or big insurance. I think it’s actually Congress’ form of “career planning”- they screw us while paving their own way to a VERY lucrative job after leaving congress. Maybe we should call it “The Blanche Lincoln path to wealth”
Never underestimate the power of corrupt corporations. We’ve seen how EPA can clean up rivers and our drinking water and we’ve seen how this process can be made not to work by removing funding and now how something that sounds like it is supposed to help the real people can only be used to destroy regulations designed to help the real people.
Let me guess, the sponsors of this bill are Republicans who are in the pockets of the big business heads. Republicans are hypocrites who say they want less government, they mean unless it is something that will damage their standing with corporate America. Come to think of it can we still call it corporate America when most of those jobs are now in China, or Sri Lanka, or India, etc.
I am a consumer, not prey!
We really do not need more bureaucracy that interferes with consumer protection
Gee, I’m curious. Which party could possibly be behind wanting to screw over the average people? Could it possibly be the Republicans? Amd who would be benefitting? Could it be the folks who would benefit from tipping off the majority of us? It is time for this to be stopped. It will be many years before the vast majority of Americans are done paying off the misdeeds of tje banksters…and the rest of the thieves who have the unmitigated gall to say, “I 47% are ‘takers’”. Really? They’re the pot calling the (elderly, disabled, children) “takers”. They invented taking and have elevated it to a virulent virus status.
Uhhh, do more watch dogs to watch the watch dogs mean that we have to buy more dog food?
no more red tape. help us, your constituents. we vote.
@Ali–it’s called Republicanism. Welcome.
What, no letter, no petition? I thought I had figured how this site worked. Wake me up when you have a letter. I wanted to take action, not just to agree.This one is better suited for the president than the last one you wanted me to sign.
PLEASE – protect the people! The Courts can rule that Corporations are People, and they have so much more power and resources against the 98% – But it’s time to Protect the Consumer/Individual Human Beings/People!!! Let’s stop all the delays and roadblocks put up in front of individual US Citizens. We need Consumer Protections that are streamlined to protect our health, our food, consumer goods, safety, banking practices, etc. To slow down the process puts us further at risk. Our economy can not afford to have Consumer Protections blocked and stalled like our Congress is right now.
This must be stopped before it starts or else consumers will be at the mercy of the evil government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the recent presidential election conveyed a very strong and clear mandate from the citizenry to “CONGRESS”!! the “WISE” “POLITICIAN” will heed this mandate and respond accordingly !! remember “DAVID and GOLIATH” !!! the “MEEK” shall “INHERIT” the “EARTH” !!!