In Ancient times, Greek armies used a battle technique known as a phalanx, which involved soldiers lining up in close formation in a block, with their emblemed shields held high and spears jutting forward or in the air. The tactic was perfected by none other than Alexander the Great, who is said to have gone undefeated in battle. In the same way that a phalanx crushes through enemy lines, a regulatory moratorium creates a rigid barrier even the most pernicious red tape will struggle to penetrate.
Take what’s happening in Arizona, a state that has been an exemplar in routing the red tape enemy. Last week, Governor Doug Ducey signed an executive order renewing a now seven-year-old moratorium on rulemaking from state regulatory agencies. The order requires governor approval before agencies may move forward with regulatory changes, and agencies must recommend three regulations for repeal — from the stack of existing outdated, obsolete, and confusing rules — for each new one added to the rulemaking pile.
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