The people elect representatives to write laws. Bureaucrats are hired to enforce them. But the line between lawmakers and bureaucrats has been blurred.
Fortunately, lawmakers in North Carolina are working to change that. Recently, the state legislature passed the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act, or REINS, with widespread bipartisan support.
The bill pulls back on bureaucratic power by making the state legislature sign off on any regulation that would cost more than $20 million over five years. If it becomes law, it’ll be a big win for the people of the Tar Heel State.
However, the governor vetoed the bill.
That’s why Americans for Prosperity is committed and fully mobilized to override the governor’s veto and turn this bill into law.
And getting the REINS Act passed in North Carolina matters for all Americans.
Why is this important? Because it gets to the heart of two key American values: democracy and accountability.
Here’s how government works: The legislature writes the laws. The executive branch enforces them. The courts interpret them.
Well, at least that’s how it should work. Regrettably, that’s not really how it goes.
Today, your elected representatives (at the state or federal level) aren’t really the ones writing most of the laws that have an impact on our day-to-day lives. Lawmakers draft vague, generic laws and leave bureaucrats to sort out the details. And the details do most of the heavy lifting.
This isn’t how representative governments should work. We elect legislators for a reason: accountability.
Whenever an elected representative gets it wrong, the people can vote him or her out of office. But if bureaucrats create and impose disastrous regulations, the people have no way to hold them accountable.
A REINS Act like the one the North Carolina Senate passed turns this equation on its head: It restores power to the people by giving the legislature the final say on regulations that will have a significant effect on the economy.
And here’s the kicker: A REINS Act won’t just restore accountability. It will also save you money.
Regulations act like a hidden tax that drains billions from our economy and harms millions of American businesses.
Here’s how:
According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, American households pay $16,016 every year in regulatory costs.
In North Carolina, there are around 190,000 state regulations that stifle businesses and cost North Carolinians around $3 billion every year.
That’s a tax you’re paying levied by bureaucrats you never voted for.
The REINS Act will put power (and money) back in your hands.
We know that bringing accountability back is critical for your prosperity and for the health of our democracy.
That’s why AFP has been mobilizing our grassroots army across the country to make the REINS Act a nationwide movement to transform the regulatory landscape, restore the voice of the people’s elected representatives, and reinvigorate our economy.
This year alone, AFP’s grassroots army was critical in passing the REINS Act in Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming.
These monumental victories are in addition to the progress you’ve helped make since 2016 in states like Florida, Kansas, and Wisconsin.
And states like Ohio and South Carolina aren’t far behind.
The opportunity to rein in a runaway administrative state and pave the way for a new era of prosperity in this country is within reach. But it won’t happen without bold action. The voices of grassroots activists like you are essential. Your voice could make the critical difference in this fight.
Click here to see what AFP is doing in your state to restore accountability and rein in the administrative state.
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