Note: These archive links take you to articles from our old website. HOME SEARCH Regulatory News Sorted By Date 1996 Regulatory Fights Likely to Continue (12/31/96) Even before the 105th Congress convenes, public interest groups are gearing up for another round of fights to protect public safeguards. Find out what will be happening with regulatory reform, federal mandates, and local flexibility/devolution. GAO Study Reveals that Regulatory 'Burden' Might be Overstated (11/31/96) A recent investigation by the General Accounting Office into the regulatory costs of 15 businesses failed to produce any evidence of significant burden -- or even slight burden for that matter -- despite the fact that participating companies were largely critical of federal regulation and had a vested interest in proving their case. Agencies Slow to Implement SBREFA (11/01/96) The implementation of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) is still wading through the thick mud of agency rule-making more than seven months after the bill's signing. EPA Facility ID Project Needs Public Comments (10/96) The EPA is requesting public comments from the public interest community concerning its proposal for the development of a consolidated facility identification database. 10th Amendment Enforcement Act of 1996 Stalls (10/04/96) The 10th Amendment Enforcement Act, which takes a swipe at the role of federal government, got lost in the congressional wilderness when the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee canceled its hearing and then never brought up the bill again. CEI Attack on Regulations Falls Short (09/30/96) The Washington, D.C.-based Competitive Enterprise Institute releaseda new report in September, entitled "Ten Thousand Commandments:A Policymaker's Snapshot of the Federal Regulatory State,"which estimated that federal regulations will cost $677 billionin 1996. Unfortunately, the report completely discounts the benefits. Major Devolution Bill (S. 88) is Dead (09/30/96) Sen. Mark Hatfield smacked into surprising opposition during the last days of the 104th Congress when he tried to attachhis Local Empowerment and Flexibility Act to the Continuing Resolution. Regulatory Accounting Signed into Law (09/30/96) The FY 1997 Omnibus Appropriations Act (or Continuing Resolution), signed into law Sept. 30 by President Clinton, contains a section requiring the Office of Manangement and Budget to establish a regulatory accounting system. Local Flexibility Act Poses Threat in Senate (Update as of 9/20/96 at noon) Local Flexibility Act Poses Threat In Senate (09/20/96) High Priority Changes Need to Local Flexibility Act (S. 88) (9/13/96) Dole Plan Cuts Safeguards, Creates Bureaucratic Maze (08/05/96) A Dole proposal to roll back regulatory reform would permit businesses to sue federal agencies. This act could lead to a flood of litigation, leaving agencies crippled and unable to implement public protections. 'Fair Warning' Act Aims for Loopholes (08/02/96) The bill, offered by Rep. George Gekas (R-PA), allows the regulated community to avoid compliance with regulations, guidance, or statements of policies that are developed without" fair warning." CSS Alert - Replacement Regulatory Fair Warning Bill Offered(8/02/96) CSS Alert - New "Takings" Bill to be Brought to Senate Floor (7/22/96) ACIR Index Page The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations released a preliminary report January 1996, which created a firestorm of protest from the public interest community. Citizens for Sensible Safeguards played an instrumental role in defeating the report. CSS Alert - Summary of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Relief Law and Congressional Review (6/96) CSS Alert - Summary of Original Dole "Takings" Bill Offered in May (6/96) CSS Alert - FDA Reform Bill to be Considered Soon (5/96) Congressional Review Law Muddies the Future (05/26/96) The recently passed Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act contains a title that will send thousands of federal regulations, not just those affecting small business, to Congress for review and possible rejection. Levin Bill Delayed, But Regulatory Fights Loom (03/07/96) Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) has been working on a sweeping regulatory bill, which is said to be done but has yet to be unveiled. The most frightening part of Levin’s effort is that it opens the door for conservatives who will have a chance to amend the bill while having the cover of a Democratic sponsor. Regulatory Rollback Efforts Further Threaten Endangered Wetlands: The key components behind regulatory "reform" would alter the criteria for defining a "wetland" and also make it more difficult for government agencies to enforce current restrictions and issue new protections. Successful TRI Program Under Fire Despite the acheivements of the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program, nearly three billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released annually into our states' rivers, lakes, soil, and air. Now, the program could fall victim to regulatory rollback. Life-Savers OSHA & MSHA Being Pushed Off Cliff Regulations concerning safety equipment, environmental monitoring, and production procedures have vastly improved the working conditions in factories and mines in all 50 states and reduced the risk of serious injury and death for millions of workers. Still, members of Congress launched a vicious assault on OSHA and MSHA. "Flexible Regulatory Option" Might Be A Deadly One While FDA and USDA safeguards have brought a marked improvement, foodborne illnesses continue to plague states, with some experiencing yearly increases in outbreak incidents. Statistics indicate that 29 states reported more incidents of shigella exposure in 1994 than they did 15 years ago. Yet some still instist that the FDA and USDA need to be more flexible. Community Health: Traffic Fatalities and Child Safety CSS Action Alerts CSS Issue Briefs EPA Proposal To Weaken Clean Air Standards