The Regulatory Review for January 27 – February 9, 2018

Welcome to FreedomWorks Foundation’s third regulatory review! Our Regulatory Action Center proudly updates you with our favorite tidbits from the swamp. We want to smash barriers between bureaucracy and the American people by delivering regulatory news straight to FreedomWorks activists. Check back in two weeks, Friday, February 24th, for the next edition.

Here’s what we’re highlighting this week:

1) Video of the Week: In this video, Towson University economics professor Howard Baetjer challenges the notion that government regulation is the only way to ensure consumers are protected. In this important and must-watch lecture, Baetjer clearly demonstrates how markets regulate themselves without government and often better than government.

2) Statistic of the Week: National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) members see an improving business climate. Only 48% of NAM members list burdensome regulations impacting their business as their primary concern under President Trump, compared to 75% of NAM members under President Obama. President Trump’s deregulatory initiatives are to thank for improving confidence.

http://www.nam.org/Data-and-Reports/Manufacturers-Outlook-Survey/2017-Fourth-Quarter-Manufacturers-Outlook-Survey/

3) Measuring Trump’s First Regulatory Year: The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has used their revolutionary QuantGov project to precisely measure Trump’s first year in terms of regulation and how it stacks up against previous administrations. In short, they conclude the numbers "definitely show a break from historical patterns."

https://www.mercatus.org/publications/regulatory-data-trump-first-year

4) Ending Endless Regulatory Reviews: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Trump expedite drilling and mining leases on public lands. Under the new plan, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would process lease requests within six months after submission. This move follows an 86% increase in BLM revenue from expanded economic activity on public lands during President Trump’s first year in office. Under previous administrations, agencies were notorious for simply sitting-on applications from various industries as a means of obstructing otherwise lawful activities. Setting firm time limits on the approval process is a critical reform for which FreedomWorks Foundation advocates

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/02/01/trump-administration-tears-down-regulations-to-speed-drilling-on-public-land/?utm_term=.562d4659d93d

5) CEOs Want More Deregulatory Moves From Trump: While many businesses are pleased with President Trump’s deregulatory agenda, there is more to be done. Rule changes for emissions, banking, resource extraction, manufacturing, and technology top the list.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/what-ceos-still-want-from-trump-a-deregulation-wishlist/article/2647826

6) Obamacare is Still Crushing Small Business: IRS restrictions on Health Savings Accounts render them useless for some insurance customers, especially those employed by small businesses. With Obamacare’s rising premiums, consumers need more control over their medical choices.

https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/commentary/obamacare-continues-crush-small-business-owners-2018

7) The Future of Wireless Requires Less Government: Clemson University economics Professor Thomas Hazlett discusses how government can best facilitate the expansion of 5G wireless internet technology. This technology will revolutionize our economy, but Hazlett argues government must first get out of the way.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hazlett-5g-commentary/commentary-the-best-way-for-the-fcc-to-enable-a-5g-future-idUSKBN1F6253

8) Environmental Federalism: Hoover Institution Fellow Terry Anderson discusses the Trump administration’s approach to management of federal lands, including his move to reduce the size of certain national monuments. Anderson ultimately praises "Trump’s Environmental Federalism."

https://www.hoover.org/research/trumps-environmental-federalism

9) State Net Regulations Violate Constitution: Associate Director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Technology and Innovation, Jessica Melugin, discusses how recent moves in a few states to create their own "net neutrality" regulations are unconstitutional. This is a rare example of actual "interstate commerce."

https://cei.org/blog/state-net-neutrality-regulations-are-constitutionally-unsound

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