A Quick Note from Ben
In 2016, President Obama's Department of Education published a rule
that hit states with new federal mandates for how to judge teachers. Like No
Child Left Behind, these new mandates overrode state and local responsibility
with Washington-based systems that rely heavily on student test scores.
that hit states with new federal mandates for how to judge teachers. Like No
Child Left Behind, these new mandates overrode state and local responsibility
with Washington-based systems that rely heavily on student test scores.
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Thankfully, after a bipartisan vote in the Senate, the President signed
our legislation repealing the Department of Education’s harmful rule on teacher
education programs this week.
our legislation repealing the Department of Education’s harmful rule on teacher
education programs this week.
This is a win for kids and for common sense. Everyone in Washington
wants good teachers for our kids but that doesn’t give them a license to
micromanage thousands of teacher training programs. With this legislation, we
put student-focused innovation ahead of top-down regulation.
wants good teachers for our kids but that doesn’t give them a license to
micromanage thousands of teacher training programs. With this legislation, we
put student-focused innovation ahead of top-down regulation.
WASHINGTON — President Trump rolled back more Obama-era regulations
Monday, signing four bills that reverse rules on education, land use and
federal purchasing.
Monday, signing four bills that reverse rules on education, land use and
federal purchasing.
How about rolling back and throwing away the entire Obama Administration?
I would be happy with that!
Let's go along with columnnist Charles Krauthammer's final statement: "The Obama Administration will become a parenthesis"
Promising to "remove every job-killing regulation we can
find," Trump said even more regulation-cutting bills were on the way.
find," Trump said even more regulation-cutting bills were on the way.
I love this guy!
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Go Trump Go!
The resolutions of disapproval reached the president's desk through the
Congressional Review Act, a rarely used tool that allows Congress to fast-track
a bills to reverse regulations. Before Trump, the law had been used
successfully only once in its 21-year history.
Congressional Review Act, a rarely used tool that allows Congress to fast-track
a bills to reverse regulations. Before Trump, the law had been used
successfully only once in its 21-year history.
Perfect. Republicans are learning the art of fine-tuned and archane legislating. Now that they have been in power for more years than not over the last two decades, they are mastering the rules of the House and the United States Senate.
Trump has now signed a total of seven, a pace that has surprised even
experts. "There are several that weren't on my radar at all," said
Susan Dudley, director of the Regulatory Studies Center at George Washington
University.
experts. "There are several that weren't on my radar at all," said
Susan Dudley, director of the Regulatory Studies Center at George Washington
University.
Incredible! There's a term for that. It's called "High Energy."
recipients with a mental impairment from buying a firearm, restricting the dumping
of mining waste in streams and rivers, and requiring energy companies to
disclose how much they're paying foreign governments.
WOW! Laws which protect Americans jobs and lives. Who could ask for more!
Don't stop there! Don't stop now!
In fact, now half of all bills Trump has signed so far have been these
regulation-killing resolutions. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said
Monday many of the bills "cancel federal power grabs that took
decision-making away from the states and local governments."
regulation-killing resolutions. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said
Monday many of the bills "cancel federal power grabs that took
decision-making away from the states and local governments."
What is it about the federal government and the undermining of our local and state economies?
One would think that more people would learn their lessons about all of ths.
The rules canceled by Trump's pen include:
So much to enjoy! So much to celebrate.
â–º The "Fair
Pay and Safe Workplaces" rule, which barred companies from receiving
federal contracts if they had a history of violating wage, labor or workplace
safety laws. That regulation, derided by critics as the
"blacklisting" rule, was already held up in court.
Pay and Safe Workplaces" rule, which barred companies from receiving
federal contracts if they had a history of violating wage, labor or workplace
safety laws. That regulation, derided by critics as the
"blacklisting" rule, was already held up in court.
Let's let companies and corporations grow and compete for wages and workers. The federal government only wants to make nice with Big Labor. How about helping the Little Guy?
"The rule simply made it too easy for trial lawyers to go after
American companies and American workers who contract with the federal
government," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.
American companies and American workers who contract with the federal
government," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said.
There is no greater reform that I can think of than preventing trial lawyers from getting rich off of frivolous lawsuits!
President Obama had pushed the rule through an executive order in 2014.
But with the rule wiped off the books, Trump then signed an executive order
revoking Obama's order and directing agencies to rescind any policies
implementing it.
But with the rule wiped off the books, Trump then signed an executive order
revoking Obama's order and directing agencies to rescind any policies
implementing it.
What's good for the loser is now great for the winner. And Trump uses Executive Orders in line with his legal prerogative.
â–º A Bureau of
Land Management rule known as "Planning 2.0," that gave the federal
government a bigger role in land use decisions. The rule was opposed by the
energy industry.
Land Management rule known as "Planning 2.0," that gave the federal
government a bigger role in land use decisions. The rule was opposed by the
energy industry.
Let's allow individuals and local governing boards to decide what is best.
â–º Two regulations
on measuring school performance and teacher training under the Every Student
Succeeds Act, a law Obama signed in 2015 with bipartisan support.
on measuring school performance and teacher training under the Every Student
Succeeds Act, a law Obama signed in 2015 with bipartisan support.
US Senator Ben Sasse was talking about this rollback victory (see above).
Trump's action effectively precludes federal action on any of those
rules, since the administration is now barred from issuing any new rule that is
"substantially similar" to the ones that were just overturned.
rules, since the administration is now barred from issuing any new rule that is
"substantially similar" to the ones that were just overturned.
Now that is brilliant. Don't just roll back bad regulation. Make sure that no one can revive them in the future.
That's one reason Congress has used the Congressional Review Act so
sparingly in the past. Dudley said this Congress clearly has an appetite to cut
even some more obscure regulations. "If there's a really focused group
that is interested in this regulation and doesn’t like it, Congress might take
it up," she said.
sparingly in the past. Dudley said this Congress clearly has an appetite to cut
even some more obscure regulations. "If there's a really focused group
that is interested in this regulation and doesn’t like it, Congress might take
it up," she said.
Let the red-tape cutting begin!
Trump signed the bills in a ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White
House, handing out pens to members of Congress. "This was a lot of work by
a lot of people to get this done," he said. "It will lead to a lot
more jobs for a lot more people."
House, handing out pens to members of Congress. "This was a lot of work by
a lot of people to get this done," he said. "It will lead to a lot
more jobs for a lot more people."
I am certain that Trump handed out pens to men and women in Congress who had not supported his bid for President in the past.
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This is really exciting. Trump has been quite the magnanimous President, doing what is best for the country, and now worrying about special interest hustles against him.
Final Reflection
I see so many old rules and traditions getting blown out of the water with the Trump administration.
All the talk about eternal government programs is wasting away as they are getting cut.
Big ideas with a big agenda are becoming forefront actions.
I expect to see a real Republican program roll out of Washington finally. It's too bad that a complete outsider had to make it happen–or maybe this outcome is the best thing to happen, since grassroots activists and individual voters are finally taking back their party as well as their government.