Wall Street Journal - Red Tape Record Breakers

Op-Ed

By Representative Todd Rokita

As you may know, I started a Red Tap Rollback program in early 2011 to begin to fight the many regulations that federal agencies are imposing on Hoosier workers and businesses. Without a doubt, there is a role for regulation in many areas, and many are well intended, the simple truth is that we face a federal government that is out-of-control when it comes to regulations.

In the Wall Street Journal editorial "Red Tape Record Breakers" (PDF below), the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal takes the Obama Administration to task for a recent threat to veto legislation that would require the federal government to consider an economic impact of regulations. While this may be common sense to many of us - weighing the benefits and costs of a rule, it appears that the Executive Branch, both of Presidents Bush and Obama, have succeeded in creating hundreds of thousands of regulations that have paralyzed our economy.

The impact is more than the ethereal "job creators" that we often hear about. A recent study by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, cited in the column, calculated the cost of red tape on working families at $14,768. Can you imagine what Hoosier households could do each year with an additional $14,768? That is one year of college for their children, or an improved family car in many cases. While government is notorious for taking your money through taxes, it's also preventing you from making more.

Regulation isn't always grounded in the environment or protecting our health. Sometimes it's completely lacking common sense and serves no purpose other than bureaucrats enforcing their will. For instance, just this week, I spoke in support of an amendment to spending legislation that I introduced with Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that would put a stop to Department of Energy regulations on ceiling fans. The legislation passed and I expect it will become law as the appropriations process continues. You can learn more about this outrageous regulation and listen to my floor remarks in support of this legislation here.

This regulation was brought to my attention as part of my Red Tape Rollback program. I encourage you to take a look at last year's 1st Anniversary Report and please consider reaching out if you feel there are federal rules and regulations that are stopping you or your employer from growing and hiring more Hoosiers. Our economy cannot afford arbitrary red tape anymore.

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