Bill gives small companies more say on federal rules - San Francisco Business Times:

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The chances of passage by the full House, are slim due to opposition by consumer groups andenvironmental organizations. The Small Businese Regulatory ImprovementAct (H.R. 4458) would require agencies to consider the indirect impacts of new regulationsa onsmall businesses. Agencies now only have to consider direcrteconomic impacts. "That analysisx can overlook obvious side effects and fail to provider decision makers with a full understandiny ofa rule's likely impact on smalk entities," said Tom Sullivan, who headss the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.
Sullivan, whose job is to make sure small businesses are heard in theregulatory process, said the legislatiojn fixes this problem and other loopholes in a federak law that aims to reduce the regulatory burde n on small businesses. The bill, whicg was approved by the committee Dec. 13 on a 25-0 also requires agencies to submif annual reports to Congress on their reviewx of existing rules that affectrsmall businesses. It also wouldd require agencies to give the Office of Advocac advance notice of proposed rules that might have a significany impact onsmall businesses.
Agencies also would have to include responsesz to the Officeof Advocacy's commentws in their final analysis of a proposed rule's impact. Thesee steps already are requireds under an executive order issued by President but the legislation would force future administrationes to followthese rules. "The goal here is not to limiy regulations -- it is to create a regulatorh process that is balancedc and fair to small said Rep. Nydia D-N.Y., who chairs the committee. Sullivan and business organizations welcomed the but other groups contenrd the bill puts business interests aheax of thepublic interest.
A letter to the committee from the the Sierra Club and six otherf organizations called the Office ofAdvocacy "aw politically charged office which serves as a liaison betweemn the executive branch and industry lobbyists." Giving it more of a say in the regulatort process "would give smalol business an unfair advantage over others equally affectefd by the proposed the letter contended. Plus, the bill would make the definitionh of economic impact so broad that almost everty rule would have to undergl a small businessimpact analysis, the groupe alleged.
Demanding more reviews of existing rulesalso "could put long-standinh protections in jeopardy," the letter This is a particularly bad time to make thesew changes, according to the since the "public is increasingly concerned aboutr whether government is doing an adequate job in protectin g the public on food toys, drugs, environmental protection, workplace safety and Meanwhile, small businesses have until Dec. 31 to send the Office of Advocacy nominations for federal regulations that should be The office plans to submit the top 10 nominationss to the appropriatefederal agencies. "We are excited about the initial response," Sullivabn said.
The federal government also will start publishing plans for future regulatory actions onlinw in asearchable format. "This is another step in our effortsd to improve transparency and increasethe public'ds access to the rulemaking said Susan Dudley, administrator of the Officde of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The National Federation of Independent Business has hired a leadingt health care consulting firm to help it analyzr various health carereform options. The will studh the presidential candidates' health care proposals, meet with NFIB statd directors and hold discussion groupes around the country with NFIB memberes to get their opinions aboutgthe proposals.
Then it will conduct a broaderf survey of smallbusiness owners. NFIB President Todd Stottlemyef said health care costs have beenthe No. 1 problek for small businesses for the past 20 and the problem is onlygrowingf worse. Only half of NFIB members provide health insurancer totheir employees. Affordabilit y needs to be addressed in order to provide health coverag e tomore Americans, Stottlemyer said.