Our Commentaries and Insights are short-form publications intended to distill long-form research and synthesize current policymaking activity into easily understood concepts.
Tight Budgets Constrain Some Regulatory Agencies, but Not All
Each year we examine the President’s proposed Budget of the United States to identify the outlays and staffing devoted to developing and enforcing federal regulations. This “regulators’ budget” report covers agencies whose regulations primarily affect private-sector activities, and expressly excludes budget and staffing associated with regulations that govern taxation, entitlement, procurement, subsidy, and credit functions.
Review Necessary to Ensure FDA’s Food Transport Rule Actually Drives Results
On February 5, 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule regarding the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food, which it hopes will help to ensure that food will not become contaminated during the transportation process.
A shift to a global benefit-cost perspective requires a much more rigorous and balanced evaluative structure.
OMB: Both Costs and Benefits of New Regulations Down in FY 2013
The Report indicates that the new regulations issued in FY 2013 involve lower annual costs and benefits than in FY 2012.
OMB released its Spring 2014 Unified Agenda listing ongoing and upcoming regulations planned by agencies.
DOT Should Incorporate Lookback Plans into Proposed Hours of Service Rule
The Department of Transportation recently extended the comment period on its proposal establishing standards for electronic logging devices and their use.
EPA’s Unmeasurable Rule: Inadequate Analysis Obstructs Public Accountability
When outcomes and assumptions are both self-contradictory and unmeasurable, it is difficult for the agency and the public to assess a policy's effects.
