Common Sense Revolution

Part of the popular appeal of reform is its common sense.

Another Bit of Revolutionary Common Sense

The speed with which this Administration is moving is breathtaking. Here, they go after disparate impact policies, holding out as a bedrock principle the notion that Americans are guaranteed equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome.

‘While we’re waiting for President Trump’s “revolution of common sense” to make its way to his destructive tariff policies, there’s progress to note in another area. Mr. Trump is dismantling the official policy architecture supporting the false notion that America is structurally racist. Enabling the color-blind society, this week Mr. Trump issued an executive order called “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy.” The order describes a long-overdue reform:

‘It is the policy of the United States to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible to avoid violating the Constitution, Federal civil rights laws, and basic American ideals.’

Newsom Has a Gasoline Awakening

Refiners are bailing out of California after rule changes including bills to permit the state Energy Commission to “micromanage” them on top of other changes to tighten the low-carbon fuel standard.

Last one out, turn out the lights.

‘What will California Gov. Gavin Newsom do when he doesn’t have oil companies to kick around anymore? The possibility is suddenly occurring to him after Valero announced last week that it will close a major Bay Area refinery and signaled another in Los Angeles was at risk, auguring even higher gasoline prices.’

How Many Trillions Do Americans Spend Complying With Federal Rules?

Regulatory tax is almost as great as income tax.

‘Wayne Crews at the Competitive Enterprise Institute is out with his annual “10,000 Commandments” report on federal regulation. He finds an economic burden of biblical proportions:

‘Federal regulation’s total compliance costs and economic effects are at least $2.155 trillion annually in Ten Thousand Commandments’ estimate, and almost certainly higher. Last year’s total was $2.117 trillion.

‘As staggeringly large as the federal leviathan is, Mr. Crews suggests why he could be low-balling:

‘An October 2023 National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) report models regulatory compliance at $3.079 trillion annually.

‘Mr. Crews puts his estimate and then NAM’s in perspective:

‘US households pay on average $16,016 annually in a hidden regulatory tax, which consumes 16 percent of income and 21 percent of household expenses.

‘These household outlays exceed expenditures on health care, food, transportation, entertainment, apparel, services, and savings. Only the costs of housing, which stand at $25,436 annually, exceed regulation.

‘The higher NAM figure implies $22,883 per household, or 30 percent of the household expense budget.

‘The regulatory tax of $2.155 trillion rivals individual income tax costs estimated at $2.176 trillion for 2023 and stands at nearly four times the corporate income tax of $419 billion.

‘The NAM cost figure of $3.079 trillion annually would exceed the sum of both ($2.6 trillion).’

Eyeing Harvard, Trump Targets Foreign Funding of Universities

The irony of weaponizing bureaucracy.

‘President Trump signed an executive order Wednesday cracking down on foreign funding at universities, which has become a key point of contention in the administration’s battle with Harvard.

‘The order aims to reinforce and strengthen rules requiring colleges and universities to report the receipt of foreign gifts or contracts worth $250,000 or more. The Trump administration has said it thinks reporting is spotty and oversight inadequate.

‘The order intends to make clear the U.S. government can revoke federal funding from universities that fail to meet transparency requirements around money flowing to American campuses from outside the country.’

Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting University Accreditors

Common sense revolution, indeed.

‘“Instead of pushing schools to adopt a divisive DEI ideology, accreditors should be focused on helping schools improve graduation rates and graduates’ performance in the labor market,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.

‘Trump signed a number of other education-related executive orders Wednesday, including ones looking at artificial intelligence and discipline policies in K-12 schools, one supporting historically Black colleges and universities, one on increasing apprenticeships and creating job pipelines, and another reinforcing rules universities must follow when reporting foreign funds.’