In the conversations of Convention of States Action volunteers and in their writings, one hears the word “rein” quite often. This is logical, because the central purpose of this organization is to rein in America’s out of control federal government.
Now, from the preliminary pronouncements of the approaching second presidency of Donald Trump, we are led to believe that his administration will be actively doing some reining in, too. Recently two fine members of congress submitted legislation to give even further hope. Senator Rand Paul (R–KY) and Representative Kat Cammack (R, FL-03) have introduced an updated version of the REINS (Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny) Act.
This is a regulatory reform bill that has the potential to restore policymaking back to the legislative branch and away from executive administrations. You know, just as the Constitution set things up.
This reform bill would strengthen congressional oversight, put a brake on administrative power, and reinstate accountability in the rule-making process. Most of us are probably unaware of earlier versions of this bill. The new one is building “upon all the good the preexisting REINS Act would do and includes new provisions to further empower Congress to check unaccountable government.
Importantly, the bill would require that guidance documents and other forms of “regulatory dark matter” be subject to congressional approval. The bill would also address the concern that rules and guidance documents are not properly submitted to Congress or the Government Accountability Office. Together, these provisions would bring greater scrutiny to the regulatory process – especially important since the Biden administration dismantled President Trump’s guidance portals and rewrote the rules of rulemaking with their Modernizing Regulatory Review directive (Executive Order 14,094).”
“Paul and Cammack’s updated REINS Act is a big step in restoring accountability to the administrative state and in ensuring that the American people are governed by their duly elected representatives, rather than by unaccountable bureaucrats.
Regulatory agencies seem to think they can make any rules they want. The REINS Act was already an important reminder that Congress has lawmaking powers, and executive agencies do not. The new version’s expanded protections make REINS even more urgent to pass.”1
COSA, this development gives us added incentive to achieve the desired convention. An amendment could permanently cement in place this separation of powers.
Find more information on Convention of States: www.conventionofstates.com
Reference
1 Crews, Clyde Wayne and Young, Ryan, Updating REINS Act Introduced in Senate and House, Competitive Enterprise Institute, 09/18/2024
https://cei.org/news_releases/updated-reins-act-introduced-in-senate-and-house
