Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has requested a Government Accountability Office report on the regulatory process. Waxman would like GAO to focus on the analytical and review requirements which often delay rulemakings. Waxman has specifically asked GAO to report on the panoply of analyses agencies must perform for every rule they consider, how these analyses are delaying rules, agencies' relationship with the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and the transparency of the White House review process. A final report is a long way off. But considering the scope of Waxman's request, this report could prove to be a comprehensive and immensely valuable. Hopefully, the report will describe why the federal regulatory system is so broken and why agencies often seem to respond to political considerations rather than public need. Read Chairman Waxman's letter to GAO