We’re beginning to see results from Attorney General Bob McDonnell’s “Government & Regulatory Reform Task Force”. The task force has issued 63 recommendations in the realms of agriculture, health care and small business. While the effort is noble in intent, the fruits of the task force’s labor are less than breathtaking. Indeed, most recommendations are so obscure that my reaction is: If that’s all they’ve come up with so far, state regulations really may not be a problem.
According to a press release, McDonnell directed the Task Force “to move forward with work to codify public participation guidelines for state agencies in an effort to increase the public’s opportunity for input. He also endorsed a proposal to simplify the manner by which small and minority-owned businesses are registered with the state.”
Nothing objectionable there, but nothing to quicken the pulse either.
You can access the recommendations on the AG’s website. Here’s the kind of stuff you’ll find:
- Remove regulations in VDACS, Chapter 150 which governs the commercial transport of companion animals that are redundant with other sections of the Chapter. Recommend deleting Sections 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 and 170.
- Update citations in the state code. A section pertaining to the Board of Opticians refers to the Department of Labor and Industry, “Division of Apprenticeship Training.” The proper name is “Division of Registered Apprenticeship.”
- In 12VAC30-100-150, update the referenced methodology of the “Virginia Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program” to “Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)”.
It’s just dandy that someone is going through the state code with such a fine eye to detail. It can’t hurt (unless someone’s brain explodes from reading all the fine print.) But let’s be honest: This is not shaping up as the kind of “reinventing government” initiative that will significantly reduce spending or relieve the regulatory burden on the private sector.
