One thing that seems virtually certain about this year’s election is that the climate in Washington will likely be different. If Hillary or Obama win, the Dems will control the executive and legislative branches, leaving them mostly free to pursue their own, probably somewhat pro-consumer agenda. And if McCain wins…well, let’s be diplomatic and express some expectation that he seems somewhat less likely to demonstrate the “creativity” of our current MBA-in-chief.
So, it’s probably no surprise that big business and certain interest groups are pushing for some regulatory changes and decisions to be resolved before 20 January. Seen in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal (free link):
This week, the Interior Department is expected to publish its decision to remove the gray wolf from its endangered species list in three Northern Rockies states. Ranchers sought such a decision, which angers environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is fighting the de-listing.
The Small Business Administration recently released its Top Ten list of rules businesses want changed before President Bush leaves office in January. Business owners and their representatives nominated more than 80 rules for the list, including workplace safety, tax, and contracting regulations.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is challenging several pending employment and labor rules, including one that would tighten the requirements for employees seeking family medical leave. If the lobbying group can’t influence the wording of regulations, it will try to influence the instructions on interpreting them issued by the agency, said Randel Johnson, vice president of the group, which lists battles against regulation as a key challenge for the next five years.
While some acceleration in the turning of the wheels of bureaucracy would be most welcome, I suspect that not everyone would be happy with what the Executive Branch will be publishing into the Federal Register in coming months….