Obama Rushes To Regulate As Administration Draws To Close

Date: December 01, 2016

Energy Regulations A Particular Focus As Agencies Attempt To Push New Rules By Year’s End

The Washington Post reports on the Obama administration’s “frenzied, final effort to put in place as many new rules and regulations as time allows.” As an example of the new rules, the Post says the Energy Department “is working to finalize 12 separate efficiency rules that will affect equipment including furnaces, commercial boilers and portable air conditioners.” However, the regulatory push is extending to all sectors, not just energy. In another example, the Post notes that White House Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz’s “team finalized a rule to evaluate whether schools were succeeding or failing under the sweeping Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) passed by Congress a year ago.” And, the Administration is also considering “executive actions that would affect land use, private-sector pay and the workplace.” Ultimately, the Post notes that Obama by Nov. 17 “enacted 54 percent more economically significant rules” than President George W. Bush did during his full two terms. Daniel Pérez, a policy analyst at the Regulatory Studies Center at George Washington University, defines regulations as “economically significant” if they produce “at least $100 million worth of economic impact.”

What This Means For Small Businesses

Small businesses bear the brunt of burdensome government regulations. News that President Obama is looking to extend his already record-breaking regulatory push by enacting additional measures during his final weeks in office is not welcome news for small business owners, who would likely face increases in costs as a result of the time and money spent implementing new regulations.

Additional Reading

The AP also reports on President Obama’s onslaught of regulatory efforts as his second term ends.

Note: this article is intended to keep small business owners up on the latest news. It does not necessarily represent the policy stances of NFIB.

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