Government Red Tape
Whether it’s layers of licensing requirements or endless red tape, government rules and regulations can stifle business. Learn how we can free up entrepreneurs.
The radio show Main Street Out Loud led a discussion on the federal health care law and the Independent Payment Advisory Board. Host Rudi K. was joined by Diane Cohen, senior attorney for the Goldwater Institute; Dr. Byron Schlomach, Director of the Center for Economic Prosperity at the Goldwater Institute; and Dr. John Ammon, Medical Director and President of Docs 4 Patient Care (Arizona Chapter).
PHOENIX — A cancer survivor and former hospice nurse’s assistant is suing the Arizona Board of Cosmetology over rules she says unconstitutionally deny her the right to earn an honest living – while at the same time needlessly denying services to homebound, elderly and bedridden individuals across the state.
Sometimes important regulatory and tort reforms come in small packages. One example is SB1153, sponsored by Senator Andy Biggs. It proposes a simple reform to insurance law, holding responsible a negligent car renter to pay for injuries or damages he's caused.
Pharmaceutical sales are coming under criticism based on what appear to be legitimate but rare abuses of pharmaceutical salespeople promising more from a drug than they should and doctors allowing themselves to be pressured into prescribing. Unfortunately, these isolated incidents are being held up as evidence of the need for vast new government intrusion and regulation of the pharmaceutical industry’s marketing practices. While certainly well intentioned, these efforts are likely to negatively affect doctors and patients.
Case Background
Does the government have the right to deny business permits because neighbors complain? The Arizona Supreme Court said no in its ruling on the Goldwater Institute’s case, Coleman v. Mesa.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse. At least that’s what I’ve been told. But there are high costs of learning about every law that might possibly impact you these days. You can randomly violate laws without even knowing it, given how intrusive and nonsensical they can be, and how often they change.
National news headlines of companies like Solyndra and other government energy subsidies gone wrong are not the only stories of the renewable energy lobby bleeding taxpayers dry. For years, the same special interests have benefitted from the “Renewable Energy Standard” Rule (REST) implemented by the Arizona Corporation Commission, by which a certain percentage of the state’s energy portfolio must come from so-called “renewables.”
Somebody hit the panic button too quickly at the Arizona Republic. A couple of weeks ago, its editorial board declared plans for a Regulatory Tax Credit would result in “regulatory Armageddon.”
Unruly, inept and ineffective state workers would face more swift and sure discipline under an overhaul of government personnel rules being pushed by Gov. Jan Brewer.
Unruly, inept and ineffective state workers would face more swift and sure discipline under an overhaul of government personnel rules being pushed by Gov. Jan Brewer.