The federal government meddles in our everyday lives with regulatory laws created by the fourth branch of government. Regulatory laws? The fourth branch of government? Try to find either of those in the Constitution. I'll wait.
What can be done about the fourth branch of government, the unelected bureaucrats that make up the administrative state? What if Congress was required to review every agency every third year and make an up or down vote as to whether that agency is necessary? Look at the books, ask some questions. Do some due diligence.
For an example of how this might work, look no further than what our Governor Kim Reynolds is currently doing here in Iowa. Under Governor Reynolds, and a law passed this year, Iowa's cabinet-level government agencies will shrink from 37 to 16.
My guess is if Congress had to review and approve an average of 146 agencies every year, half of these agencies would be retired. And along with that a significant pruning of the federal budget would occur.
Will Congress act and make these changes on their own? Not likely. These changes will need to be done through a constitutional amendment.
How do we amend the constitution? And who has the power and responsibility to do so? Check out Article V of the Constitution and the power it gives to our state legislators. Then check out how the process has already begun at www.conventionofstates.com.
It's not too late to rein in the "fourth branch."
Scott W. Bates
West Des Moines, Iowa
