14 Jan 2010
Paperwork Reduction Act
How to improve implementation of the law
by Richard Belzer
in Paperwork Burdens
On October 28, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget solicited comments on its implementation of the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of the PRA is to minimize burdens on the public resulting from the federal government's information requests.
Neutral Source managing editor Richard Belzer submitted comments on his own behalf. These comments eventually will be uploaded by OMB to Regulations.Gov, the Federal government's web portal for all regulatory matters. (Clicking on the link above will reveal a fundamental weakness of the web portal: Unless the agency chooses to include information identifying the name and organizational affiliation of the submitter, there is no way to find any specific comment without opening them all.)
In response to numerous requests, a copy of these comment is posted to the Library.
More...19 Aug 2009
Cash for Clunkers, Part 3
Why can't the government manage this program?
by Richard Belzer
in Paperwork Burdens, Regulatory Policy
News reports indicate that the federal government is failing to manage the Cash for Clunkers program so that car dealers can be promptly reimbursed.
We think we know why.
More...22 Dec 2008
Union Paperwork Burdens
by Richard Belzer
in Paperwork Burdens, Regulatory Policy
In an editorial today, the Wall Street Journal raises concerns about Rep. Hilda Solis' commitment to enforcing information disclosure requirements that apply to unions. Solis has been announced as President-elect Obama's choice to be Secretary of Labor.
Paperwork burdens on the public (including businesses and unions) are governed by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Office of Management and Budget is statutorily charged with reviewing these burdens before they are imposed to ensure that their "practical utiulity" (i.e., benefits) are commensurate with their "burdens" (i.e., costs).
"Practical utility" often depends on the perspective of the observer. The Journal editorial board says the information has high value to weed out union corruption; union representatives say the reporting requirement is unduly burdensome. Both views are likely colored by policy views concerning what information they believe ought to be publicly disclosed.
Meanwhile, there is a factual dispute concerning how burdensome it actually is for unions to fulfill these paperwork requirements. As it happens, the Paperwork Reduction Act provides potentially useful information on this subject.
More...
