NAM pushes regulatory “clarity”

By Plant Engineering Staff January 13, 2006

Trying to get federal regulators to drop rules they believe are barriers to manufacturers, the National Association of Manufacturers is calling for what it called “clarity and transparency” in regulatory implementation guidelines.

The NAM submitted comments on the proposed Bulletin for Good Guidance Practices solicited by the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

“Far too often, guidance documents have been used by agencies as a means to get around the transparent rulemaking procedures as found in the Administrative Procedure Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, E.O.r requirements, thereby leading to greater voluntary compliance.”

“The Bush administration has made great progress in improving the quality and reining in the cost of regulations that suffocate growth and jobs,” said NAM President John Engler. “More clarity and transparency in guidance documents will encourage greater voluntary compliance with existing and future regulations.”