Search Results Archives: January 2012
From: The Hill
By Jerry Ellig Special to Roll Call Jan. 31, 2012, MidnightTwo years after its passage, the 2010 health care overhaul is still a topic of contention. Just this month, several state attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting the law. This comes shortly after the Department of Justice filed merit briefs in the same case pending before the Supreme Court. Many more will be filed between now and oral arguments scheduled for March.
From: RegBlog
Richard J. Pierce, Jr.
Use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to produce natural gas from shale formations – so-called fracking – has provoked debate among politicians all over the world. It has also raised scores of challenging legal issues that are being litigated in numerous agencies and courts.
natural gas reserves have increased by over 65% over the period 2000-2009, and fracking reserves certainly have contributed to this growth. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects this trend to continue, as it now predicts that the U.S. will have enough gas to satisfy domestic demand for a century and that the U.S. will soon have a surplus sufficient to begin exporting gas to Asia. From: FierceEMR
By Marla Durben Hirsch – Contributing Editor
The next few months are going to be chock-full of new regulations affecting electronic health records systems. That’s the scoop from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ latest regulatory agenda, submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and published Jan. 20. According to the agenda, EHRs are one of the agency’s top priorities for the first half of 2012. HHS has accordingly sent to OMB proposed rules both on Stage 2 of Meaningful Use and on new standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria that EHRs would need to support Meaningful Use.
Editor’s Note: The following article discusses OIRA consideration of proposed regulations that would have an extensive impact on the housing industry and the mining industry, essential components of the American economy.
From: Huffington Post
WASHINGTON — A long-awaited federal rule designed to protect workers in the construction and mining industries has been tied up in red tape at the White House, leading scientists to worry that the rule has been left in limbo due to political concerns.
Editor’s Note: The following article quotes a former FDA official saying that “current hold up is at OMB” with respect food saftey regulations. A more apt description of the the process would be to say that OIRA is reviewing the regulations pursuant to the President’s regulatory review authority and directives.
From: Food Safety News
Just over a year ago, President Obama used 15 pens to sign the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) into law. The most sweeping update to U.S. food safety law in more than 70 years, FSMA is a huge undertaking for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and, not surprisingly, the agency is already behind on some major deadlines in its efforts to implement it.
Editor’s Note: A regulation impacting the NFL, including ticket prices and viewing options, deserves the same White House review as other economic regulations — yet another argument in favor of central review of independent agency regulations.
From: RegBlog
by Sean Moloney
In response to a petition from industry and consumer groups, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced last week that it is considering revising its sports “blackout” rules that prevent some fans from watching their home teams from the comfort of their homes.
Editor’s Note: The letter to OIRA is attached below.
January 11, 2012
Investigation Details:
Combustible Dust Hazard Investigation
BEGIN STATEMENT
Recently, I wrote the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management of Budget (OMB), to express my strong support for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposal to include an “unclassified hazards” category in its pending Final Rule. Currently OMB is reviewing the Final Rule for adoption of a Globally Harmonized System (GHS) which would align the existing hazard communication standard with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling.
From: Weekly Standard
The costliest regulation you’ve never heard of.
By IKE BRANNON and SAM BATKINS
There are a number of pricey regulations that have received attention of late: net neutrality, new ozone standards, countless regulations stemming from the passage of the Dodd-Frank bill. These rules typically garner a mention in the Wall Street Journal, a formal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) review, and, in some cases, a lengthy Regulatory Impact Analysis.
Editor’s Note: The article below illustrates the need for OIRA oversight over regulations of the FTC and other independent agencies. Without such independent review, companies face increased risks that the development of new consumer products, and even entire new industries, may be stifled by regulators without consideration of precedent or national interest. It should be noted that Microsoft’s Bing already integrates their search function with data from Facebook, a social networking site over 150 times more popular than Google+ .
From: SlashGear
Editor’s Note: The Data Quality Act requires that third party studies referenced/submitted by commentors must comply with DQA standards before an agency can use or rely on the material.
From: RegBlog