Published November 1978 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Reining in Runaway Regulations Regulatory agencies are like people, an economist once noted. They are vigorous in youth, mellow in middle age, and sometimes senile in old age. The federal regulatory system has been a source of contention and a target for reform since Congress established the first agency, the Interstate Commerce Commission, in 1887 to correct railroad industry abuses. Since then, regulatory agencies have proliferated and their powers have multiplied, so that today, more than 60 independent commissions and executive agencies write thousands of rules and regulations each year. Federal regulations do provide many benefits that we take for granted, such as purer foods, safer drugs, better workplaces, cleaner air and water, and other factors that make up our high standard of living. But, too often, the regulatory agencies produce petty rules that conflict and overlap, and do little to protect the public from unfair and unsafe business practices. The agencies are marred by too much inertia, waste, delay and harassment, while consumers are taxed with higher prices and businessmen with increased costs. Excessive regulation is also a major factor in spiraling inflation. One study predicts that federal regulations next year will cost approximately $103 billion, or $5 billion in administrative costs and $98 billion in compliance costs for the private sector. It is estimated that in the last ten years, regulations h a v e driven up the price of a new car by an average of $666. Whenever possible and without endangering the public's welfare, Congress is attempting to eliminate the federal regulatory role so as to allow free market competition to bring down prices. The 95th Congress passed two bills designed to meet these objectives. The natural gas deregulation bill phases out federal price controls by 1985. The airline deregulation bill gradually reduces the role of the Civil Aeronautics Board in airlines' fare and route decisions and abolishes the CAB altogether in 1984. Congress must also scrutinize the individual agencies to see that they are acting effectively, balancing the costs and benefits of regulations. I have cosponsored legislation which requires Congress to review and reauthorize 18 major regulatory agencies once every ten years in order to guarantee regular review of agency performance. The legislation was incorporated in a bill that passed in the Senate, but not in the House, and should remain a major priority in the 96th Congress. Only through continued and systematic review of the regulatory agencies can we hope to control runaway federal regulations. November 15, 1978