Sen. Mike Lee Questions OMB Nominee Dan Bishop on REINS Act and Regulatory Reform

The Administrative State and Regulatory Burden

• ⚖️ The administrative state is described as crushing the American people through regulations that impose significant economic costs, rivaling federal income tax.
• 📜 In 2024 alone, administrative agencies promulgated regulations with an estimated net economic impact of $1.5 trillion.
• 🏛️ These regulations are laws made by unelected individuals, bypassing the constitutional process of legislation requiring passage by both the House and Senate.

Constitutional Lawmaking and Delegation

• 📜 Article 1, Section 1 and Section 7 of the Constitution outline the formula for creating federal law, requiring passage of the same text in both houses and presentation to the President.
• 🔄 Since the late 1930s, Congress has been delegating lawmaking power, leading to a complex system of federal regulations that are difficult to understand and anticipate.
• ⚠️ James Madison's warning in Federalist 62 about laws being voluminous, complex, and ever-changing is highlighted as being even more critical today, as these laws are not even made by elected officials.

The REINS Act and Regulatory Reform

• 💡 The REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) is proposed as a reform requiring new affirmative legal obligations to go through the legislative process.
• 🎯 Dan Bishop expresses support for the REINS Act, referencing successful regulatory reform efforts in North Carolina and President Trump's plans to reduce regulations.
• 🏢 Bishop notes that the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at OMB would be central to regulatory reform efforts.

Legislative Strategy for Reform

• 🚀 Senator Lee advocates for attaching regulatory reform, specifically the REINS Act, to a must-pass legislative vehicle, such as a debt ceiling bill, to ensure its passage.
• 🔑 Permanent structural reform is seen as essential for a sustainable supply of liberty, and attaching it to a critical bill is proposed as the most effective strategy.