Plain Regulations Act would require government rules be written in clear, concise language
Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) introduced a new bill - his first of 2012 - to streamline government regulations in an effort to save small businesses time and money.
The Plain Regulations Act would require the government to write new and updated regulations in clear, simple, easy-to-understand language.
"Whether you like or loathe government regulations, I think everyone can agree that when they exist they should be written as clearly as possible," Braley said. "Sadly, gobbledygook dominates the regulations issued by government agencies, making it almost impossible for small businesses to understand the rules of the road.
"The Plain Regulations Act would simplify rules, saving small businesses time and freeing up money that can be better used investing in growing the business and creating jobs."
The costs to small businesses of complying with government regulations are significant. The National Small Business Association has estimated that businesses with less than 20 employees pay an estimated $7,600 per employee to comply with regulations.
"Simplifying regulations won't eliminate the costs of compliance, but it will reduce them. And it's an easy way to save small businesses money that can quickly attract bipartisan support."
Examples of lengthy, overly complex regulations abound. As part of the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services recently published a 189 page rule outlining the requirements for doctors to form Accountable Care Organizations. Doctors have complained that the regulations are too complex and convoluted for them to understand.
Braley is known for his efforts to simplify government writing. In 2007, Braley launched a three-year effort to require the government to write forms and documents like tax returns in easy-to-understand language with the introduction of the Plain Writing Act. The bill was signed into law by President Obama in 2010, and improves the accountability of the federal government by promoting clear communication that the public can understand and use. The law went into effect in July of 2011.
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