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Managing The Regulatory State: The Experience Of The Bush Administration, John D. Graham, Paul R. Noe, Elizabeth L. Branch Jan 2006

Managing The Regulatory State: The Experience Of The Bush Administration, John D. Graham, Paul R. Noe, Elizabeth L. Branch

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article traces the history of Presidential management of the regulatory state up to the administration of President George W. Bush. It focuses on the latter's implementation of "smarter regulation," an approach to regulation based on unfunded mandates on the private sector implemented through the Office of Management and Budget, an organization within the Executive Office of the President. It finds cost-benefit analysis an essential, yet often neglected, tool for implementing efficient and effective regulations. It concludes the policies promoted under President Bush's OMB have effectively cut costs by streamlining the rule-making process and discouraging adopting new federal rules, but …


The Unbearable Lightness Of Regulatory Costs, Frank Ackerman Jan 2006

The Unbearable Lightness Of Regulatory Costs, Frank Ackerman

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The Article counters the presumption that increased environmental regulation necessarily decreases economic prosperity. It analyzes the European chemical regulatory structure and deduces that any costs imposed on the consumer are minimal, and more cost effective than watered-down American regulations covering the same subject matter with approximately the same cost imposed on the consumer-taxpayer. It argues the Office of Management and Budget and regulated industries have consistently overestimated the costs of environmental regulation and promoted the theory that environmental regulation causes factories and jobs to move offshore. It concludes that deregulation may not spur growth.


Statutory Interpretation In The Era Of Oira, Lisa Heinzerling Jan 2006

Statutory Interpretation In The Era Of Oira, Lisa Heinzerling

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The Article is a case study regarding a rule governing cooling water towers for power plants promulgated pursuant to the Clean Water Act ("CWA"). It analyzes the history of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs ("OIRA") within the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB"), and its influence in compelling the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") to conduct cost-benefit analysis of all regulations. It argues that the EPA should not receive Chevron deference since it has acted illegally by interpreting the CWA not as a technology-based environmental law, but instead as a cost-benefit law.


The Regulatory Flexibility Act At 25: Is The Law Achieving Its Goal?, Keith W. Holman Jan 2006

The Regulatory Flexibility Act At 25: Is The Law Achieving Its Goal?, Keith W. Holman

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The Article traces the issue of lack of representation given small business during rule-making, and the inability of the original Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) to adequately address this issue. It argues that the amendment of the RFA by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) has significantly increased small business awareness of and involvement in the regulatory process. It concludes there are several remaining weaknesses to the RFA, and recommends Congress take action to compel all agencies to follow specific procedures for assessing the economic impacts of their regulatory actions on small business.


Resisting Regulation With Blue Ribbon Panels, Thomas O. Mcgarity Jan 2006

Resisting Regulation With Blue Ribbon Panels, Thomas O. Mcgarity

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The Article analyzes the use of blue ribbon panels to resolve complicated scientific issues that frequently arise during regulatory proceedings. In particular, it looks at the case of beryllium in order to illustrate how blue ribbon panels appointed and paid for by industry often lend scientific legitimacy to policy advocacy. It concludes that agencies should partially discount scientific evidence provided by industry appointed blue ribbon panels due to expected bias. However, it finds the agency will confront some difficulty convincing the public of the adequacy of regulations that are in conflict with a well-financed campaign by a regulated entity armed …


Cost-Benefit Analysis: Where Should We Go From Here?, Sally Katzen Jan 2006

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Where Should We Go From Here?, Sally Katzen

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The Article addresses the criticism of cost benefit analysis (CBA). Although it accepts the monetization of costs will generally oppose regulation, it finds CBA is at least close to an objective standard. It argues the results of CBA are informative, but are not dispositive, and often the procedures used in CBA are imperfect. It concludes financial resources should be devoted to retrospective analyses and/or organization studies in order to achieve rational regulatory decision making.


The Role Of The Office Of Information And Regulatory Affairs In Federal Rulemaking, Curtis W. Copeland Jan 2006

The Role Of The Office Of Information And Regulatory Affairs In Federal Rulemaking, Curtis W. Copeland

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The Article describes the role of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), an office within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in reviewing agencies' draft rules. It emphasizes the dramatic effect each Presidential administration has had on the OIRA's review process, and indirectly on all agency action. It finds OIRA has become a "gatekeeper" with regard to agency action, but mentions that scholarly debate continues as to whether OIRA represents the President's interests exclusively or both the often conflicting interests of Congress and the President.


Willful Blindness: Federal Agencies' Failure To Comply With The Regulatory Flexibility Act's Periodic Review Requirement-And Current Proposals To Invigorate The Act, Michael R. See Jan 2006

Willful Blindness: Federal Agencies' Failure To Comply With The Regulatory Flexibility Act's Periodic Review Requirement-And Current Proposals To Invigorate The Act, Michael R. See

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The Article first explains the basic requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and in particular focuses on the periodic review requirement contained in Section 610. It traces the history of Presidential efforts through the promulgation of executive orders to delay the implementation of regulations and require agencies to consult with regulated industries. Reviewing agency action from 1997-2005 following Section 610 review, it found agencies are confused as to when review is necessary, and, though Section 610 is meant to decrease the regulatory burden on small business, agencies often increase the regulatory burden on small business. It concludes the key problem …