Who needs an independent agenda when you have corporate allies? Thanks regulatory capture!
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) wants the oil industry, drug manufacturers and other trade groups and companies to tell him which Obama administration regulations to target this year.
The incoming chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee -- in letters sent to more than 150 trade associations, companies and think tanks last month -- requested a list of existing and proposed regulations that would harm job growth.
Yes, it's scandalous that Darrell Issa is embracing regulatory capture as a matter of policy. But, is this really a surprise? Republicans have been more than open about their willingness to sell public policy to the highest bidder.
As I noted last month, most of the new GOP committee chairs have strong ties to powerful business interests: Spencer Bachus, incoming chair of the Financial Services Committee, believes that "Washington and the regulators are there to serve the banks," and intends to remove key provisions of Dodd-Frank, as well as defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Dave Camp, soon-to-be-chair of Ways and Means, is a lobbyist favorite, and John Kline -- of Education and Labor -- wants to maintain federal giveaways to for-profit schools. What's more, John Boehner wants to devolve more power to the committee chairs, which has the effect -- intentional or not -- of increasing access for business interests.
Rep. Issa might be more open than most, but he isn't unique. Corporate control is the rule for the new GOP majority.
-- Jamelle Bouie
