NYC: A regulation wonderland, a small business nightmare
Gene Marks on April 20, 2019
As a lifelong Philadelphian, I’ve never had much sympathy for the plight of New Yorkers, particularly Mets fans. But that’s all changing. I feel pretty bad for people trying to run a small business in that town. Believe me, Philadelphia has its challenges, but for small operators in the Big Apple, it’s a much tougher life…
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IDAHO’S NEW “BUDGET” FOR RED TAPE
James Broughel on April 01, 2019
Hitting the ground running, Governor Little recently signed two executive orders taking aim at unnecessary regulations affecting Idahoans. His actions are part of a growing trend, as states and even the federal government create innovative “budgets” for red tape. Other states should take notice of Idaho’s leadership…
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How independent are government agencies? OMB’s move on ‘major’ rules may tell us
Bridget C.E. Dooling on April 13, 2019
The departure of Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen thrust the issue of vacancies back into the spotlight this week. This comes with worries that acting officials lack the influence needed to achieve their mission. Acting officials at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) yesterday served up a fresh test of this concern…
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Pain Patients Get Relief From Regulation
Sally Satel on April 14, 2019
In a span of 24 hours, the prospects for chronic pain patients treated with opioid medication vastly improved. On April 9, the Food and Drug Administration made official what hundreds of doctors have been saying for years: Patients whose intractable pain is being treated with opioids should move off them slowly, if they are to be tapered at all.
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Is the Fiduciary Rule Dead?
Gregory F. Jacob on April 10, 2019
On March 15, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down the controversial “Fiduciary Rule” in a decision by Judge Edith Jones that was none too subtle concerning its intended effect. The court noted that the Administrative Procedure Act requires a court to “hold unlawful and set aside agency action” that it determines is “arbitrary, capricious, … not in accordance with law” or not in accordance with statutory limitations. The opinion concluded with the words “we reverse the judgment of the district court and vacate the Fiduciary Rule in toto.”
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Councilman proposes change to Philly bidding system to boost small businesses
WHYY on April 12, 2019
Philadelphia Councilman Derek Green wants to make it easier for small businesses to win contracts with the city…
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GBHS concerned about pet store regulation bill
Catherine Patterson on April 08, 2019.
There’s growing concern over a pet store regulation bill called Senate Bill 183…
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Ill-Considered Tax Credit Regulation May Put the Squeeze on Charities, Taxpayers
Jerry Ellig on April 05, 2019.
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has started reviewing a draft of a final Internal Revenue Service regulation that seeks to prevent taxpayers from avoiding the cap on state and local tax deductions (colloquially known as the “SALT cap.”) Unfortunately, the version of the regulation the IRS proposed last August would also impose collateral damage on legitimate charities and taxpayers who are below the SALT cap. The administration can remedy those problems if it uses the OIRA review process to enforce some basic principles that have guided executive branch regulatory development for four decades…
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Closing The Tax Man’s Loophole
Susan Dudley on April 11, 2019.
As Tax Day approaches, Americans are scrambling to understand the new tax forms and file their returns. Most are well aware of the effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 on the tax code and reporting requirements. But something else has changed since last year that, while much less visible to the public, may contribute to better IRS policies in the long run…
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Internet crackdown raises fears for free speech in Britain
Alex Hern on April 08, 2019.
Critics of the government’s flagship internet regulation policy are warning it could lead to a North Korean-style censorship regime, where regulators decide which websites Britons are allowed to visit, because of how broad the proposals are…
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