Letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States - Release Regulatory Plans

Letter

Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) sent the following letter to President Obama regarding Executive Order 13563 entitled "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review." In his letter, Senator Barrasso calls on the President to release more information about each Departments' regulatory review plans.

"In January, President Obama directed each agency to turn in their regulatory review plan by today," said Barrasso. "These proposals should be full of substance -- not window dressing that sounds good but doesn't really make a difference. With high unemployment, Washington should cut red tape and make it easier for the private sector to create new jobs."

Text of the Letter

Dear Mr. President

Washington's red tape continues to make it harder for the private sector to create new jobs and hire new workers.

On January 18, 2011, you announced Executive Order 13563 entitled "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review." I appreciate your Executive Order and believe it was a step in the right direction for American innovation and entrepreneurship. Americans deserve a thoughtful and thorough review of existing and future regulations.

In your order, you specifically directed Departments throughout your Administration to develop and submit a plan to "determine whether any such regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so as to make the agency's regulatory program more effective or less burdensome in achieving the regulatory objectives." The deadline to submit those plans is today.

Republicans are committed to working with you and your Administration on legislation to reduce and eliminate burdensome Washington regulations. As we work together, we would like to know specifically:

1. Will you make each Department's plan public? If so, when?
2. What rules did Departments of your administration review in making their determinations?
3. What rules did each Department consider amending or repealing?
4. What rules are being amended or repealed?

At a May 11, 2011 CBS News Town Hall Meeting in Washington, DC, when asked about regulations, you stated, "hopefully, you'll see some improvement over the next couple years." Respectfully Mr. President, our economy, job creators, and job seekers cannot afford a "couple years.'

The time to streamline and repeal burdensome regulations is now and it is urgent. We must eliminate barriers in Washington that make it harder for the private sector to create new jobs and grow our economy.

Sincerely,
John Barrasso, M.D.
United States Senator

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