Seems like few people would vote for a bill that would create yet another government committee — but, this one comes with a twist.
Bipartisan legislation (S441) sponsored by state Sens. Steve Oroho (R-Sparta) and Paul Sarlo (D-Wood Ridge) would establish the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission, a nine-member body charged with evaluating all proposed and adopted regulations, rules and executive orders to consider their impact on the economy and determine if their benefits outweigh the burdens placed on business and government.
The bill, which is intended to bolster government efficiency and reduce damaging regulations, was endorsed Thursday by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
Oroho and Sarlo — two of the more influential members of the Senate — said they were hopeful the bill will continue to advance. Businesses, Oroho said, desperately need it.
“The plethora of red tape and bureaucracy has been suffocating New Jersey’s economy for too long, and conditions deteriorate more with every passing year,” Oroho said. “The goal for creating this commission is to begin unraveling rules, regs and edicts that have a negative impact on the fiscal environment in the state.”
The members of the commission would represent both the executive and legislative branches and would be charged with addressing the state’s economic viability and prosperity.
“With this commission’s help, we can ease the impact of government regulation in New Jersey, something that is desperately needed and long overdue,” Oroho said. “The overwhelming glut of onerous laws and rules are responsible for our state’s reputation as unfriendly to business. If we can target and eliminate the most damaging examples of counterproductive bureaucratic overreach, we can rebuild our competitive edge and restore New Jersey’s position as an economic powerhouse.”
The bill requires the commission to deliver an annual report to the governor and Legislature with recommendations on items to repeal or amend. The findings are advisory only and cannot be used for legal challenges.
