Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to this amendment and in strong opposition to the Regulatory Accountability Act. This bill is another thinly veiled mechanism for the majority to attack agency rulemaking with which they disagree. This amendment would prevent agencies from publicly disclosing information that, quote, ``directly advocates, in support of or against the proposed rule, for the submission of information to form part of the record of review for the proposed rule.'' I am concerned that the way this language is written it could restrict agencies from providing information about the benefits of a rule and soliciting public feedback. The Administrative Procedure Act requires agencies to solicit public comments on proposed rules except in narrow circumstances. We should be encouraging agencies to solicit public comments in order to provide businesses, consumer groups, and other members of the public with the opportunity to make suggestions to the agency for improving the proposed rule. Agency employees are already barred under appropriations bills from engaging in publicity or propaganda.…”