Cass Sunstein

OIRA Nominee Sunstein Promises Law and Pragmatism Will Guide Decisions

May 19, 2009

During his May 12 confirmation hearing, President Barack Obama's choice for regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein, portrayed himself as a pragmatist, one who will not use economic analysis as a straitjacket for regulations. In pledging to look to the law first for regulatory guidance, Sunstein tried to distance himself from past regulatory czars who strongly supported economic analysis to judge the adequacy of health, safety, and environmental rules.

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Questions for OIRA’s Cass Sunstein

May 6, 2009 by Matthew Madia

The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing on the nomination of Cass Sunstein to be the administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 at 10:00am, and it looks like it will be webcast.

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Sunstein Officially Nominated

Apr 20, 2009 by Matthew Madia

The internets are buzzing with the news that President Obama has officially nominated Harvard Law Professor Cass Sunstein to head the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs – the administration’s gatekeeper for all things regulatory.

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Will Sunstein Substitute Information for Regulation?

Apr 10, 2009 by Matthew Madia

Grist, the environmental news website, has posted an interview with Cass Sunstein, President Obama’s supposed pick to lead the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

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Obama Begins Regulatory Reform

Feb 10, 2009

President Barack Obama took two steps toward reforming the way federal agencies develop public protections. On Jan. 30, the president issued a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies asking for recommendations to help develop a new regulatory executive order. The same day, he issued an executive order overturning two Bush-era executive orders that changed the way regulations were developed.

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Transition at OIRA: What Kind of Change?

Jan 13, 2009 by Rick Melberth*

Change is coming to the leadership position at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Two news reports during the week of Jan. 5 highlighted the outgoing and (potentially) incoming administrators of the office that reviews federal agencies' proposals for providing public health, safety, consumer, and environmental protections.

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Changes at OIRA; Obama Nominee Announced

Jan 9, 2009 by Matthew Madia

Wednesday, Reg•Watch blogged about President Bush's decision to appoint Susan Dudley as the acting administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs — the White House office in charge of clearing federal regulations. Dudley has been the administrator since 2007, but her recess appointment expired, forcing Bush to give her "acting" status.

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