Wednesday, April 26, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports, today urged members of Congress to oppose the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017, a bill that would drastically undermine how federal rules are developed and implemented. A group of senators announced the bill’s introduction at a Capitol Hill press conference this morning.
“This dangerous bill would rig the system, putting corporate special interests ahead of the public interest and the needs of consumers,” said William Wallace, policy analyst for Consumers Union. “Federal rules set a level playing field for businesses and protect consumers from threats like predatory financial schemes, hazardous products, dirty air and water, and tainted food. The rules should be written and enforced in a way that looks out for the public first — not corporate profits.
“We agree with the bill’s sponsors that federal rules should be smart and effective, and avoid unnecessary costs and delays. But this bill would make current problems worse. Instead of streamlining and improving the regulatory process, this bill would make it dramatically slower, more costly to taxpayers, and far less effective at protecting health, safety, and other essential consumer priorities. We urge senators to oppose the bill, and to reject it if it comes up for a vote,” Wallace said.