Deregulate to Stimulate

Few Americans are aware of the massive scope of the federal regulatory
enterprise. It is hardly common knowledge that 4,004 rules from nearly 70
departments and agencies filled the regulatory pipeline in 2008, or that the
Federal Register now skirts 80,000 annual pages. These business, health, safety
and environmental regulations (plus paperwork) cost $1.2 trillion annually–on
top of the $3.55 trillion in direct government spending.

In the present economic environment, policymakers can ill afford to ignore
the need to deregulate to stimulate.

–Wayne Crews, vice president for policy, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Washington Times

Quoted in Steve Forbes’ “Other Coments” column, Forbes.com