ACCF Convenes Bipartisan Regulatory Improvement Group

The ACCF convened a small bipartisan group on June 22, comprised of a diverse cross-section of organizations, associations, and coalitions to discuss improving the federal regulatory system. Specifically, the focus was on the policy and politics of regulatory improvement efforts at the federal level, similar activities occurring at the state level, and ideas regarding working together to partner with the new Administration and Congress.  Key takeaways from this discussion include:

• Now is the Time – Whether it is through legislation or Executive Orders, the take away from the meeting was that there is a critical mass of support for improving the system from across sectors of the economy and at the local, state, and federal level.  Regulations must protect the health and welfare of the people of this country while simultaneously creating an environment where productive jobs are created.  The ACCF believes that this balance can and will be done under the next Administration, regardless of which party is represented in the White House.

• States Should Be The Model – The ACCF along with various coalitions and organizations believe that an effective outreach at the state level will be a fundamental component of a successful effort at the federal level.  As Justice Brandeis, once wisely noted, states are the “laboratories of democracy” and we should learn from them. In the case of improving the regulatory system, this still holds true and therefore the federal government should put a premium on learning as much as possible from the individual states’ best practices.

• Bipartisanship is Necessary – Bipartisan support is critical to improving the regulatory system even if it is not a large comprehensive package of bills, but rather smaller pieces analyzed and posited incrementally. While this will take more time and effort, the end result will be well worth it if it leads to a reduction in the regulatory burdens on small businesses and individual families.  As also discussed, moving forward must be politically practical and pragmatic, realizing that building a bipartisan coalition will require building trust on both sides and that the end goal must be to make the process more efficacious.