At its very best, government is smart, efficient, and capable of getting things done for the people it serves. That’s why, in 1980, Congress established the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
I had the honor of leading this little-known, but critically important, agency at the turn of the century. At the core of our mission was reviewing proposed and final regulations issued by government agencies. We checked the agency’s cost-benefit analyses to make sure each rule is a good deal for the taxpaying public. This practice is now a well-accepted part of the federal rulemaking process, bringing a much-needed level of transparency and accountability to the executive branch of our government. OIRA can only be effective if agencies submit their rules to OIRA for review.
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