Madison – Lawmakers are reviewing a bill designed to give government red tape a review.
On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held a public hearing on the Sunset Clause Bill authored by State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and State Representative Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna). Our state currently has 19,067 chapters and 12,182 pages of red tape. Senator Darling says the bill will bring transparency to the rule making process.
“Outdated rules won’t go away on their own. Some rules have been on the books for decades even when they aren’t needed anymore,” Darling said, “It’s time to give our administrative rules a full review.”
Under the bill, every seven years entire chapters of code will be up for review. One year before it expires, the code can be renewed by going through the rule making the process. By allowing another review, the public and lawmakers will have more input on whether the rule is still necessary.
“I want to thank Senator Nass for scheduling this important bill for a public hearing,” Darling said, “Also, I truly appreciate Representative Steineke’s work on this bill.”
During the public hearing, the bill received strong support from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Wisconsin Independent Businesses, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, and the Wisconsin Dairy Business Association (WDBA). According to the WDBA, over-regulation is forcing many farmers to raise heifers in other states. They estimate as many as 200,000 Wisconsin heifers are being raised in other Midwestern and Plains states because regulations here can double the costs.
The bill is now available for a vote in the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform.
Senator Darling represents portions of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties.
