Should Congress Pass The REINS Act?
A series of proposals centered on regulatory reform are squarely in the cross-hairs on Capital Hill. This includes the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (the “REINS Act”). Long-brewing concerns about over-regulation, law-making, lack of accountability, rule-making abuses, waivers and more are driving lawmakers as they consider a variety of proposals. The over-riding consideration is this: over the past 80-plus years a major transformation in the structure of the federal government has occurred at the most basic constitutional level. There has been a continuing transfer of power from the legislative branch to the executive branch of government. This transformation has occurred without the passage of a single Constitutional amendment.
The REINS Act is the subject of the following debate. The REINS Act recently passed in the House and now awaits Senate consideration. The general goal of the REINS Act is to allow Congress to re-gain direct oversight of the regulatory process. Continue reading “A Debate on the REINS Act – The Future of the Administrative State”