Ronald Reagan was known for his approach to the economy, that while drawing much criticism, was based on the idea that change in all forms comes from the top.
This, of course, was called trickle-down economics, meaning that what benefits companies and governments will eventually make its way down to the line troops (meaning us little people — the voters and taxpayers), meaning eventually everyone wins.
While I can’t say what the end result was, since it was much maligned and not allowed to finish, the theory was sound. So it’s refreshing to see that while it didn’t get much traction on the economy side, it’s starting to on the policy side of things.
Everyone has I’m sure become familiar with the Department of Governmental Efficiency and the mission to root out waste, fraud and abuse embedded in the federal government. Every department of the federal government, it seems.
Last week, Texas took a page out of the Trump playbook by creating what essentially is the Lone Star version of DOGE — Senate Bill 14, which creates the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed the bill into law, and it will take effect Sept. 1. The purpose of the legislation is to remove unnecessary regulation, put stricter standard on new regulations that could be costly to business, and be a bulwark against the growth of the administrative state, according to a press release.
I’ve long been a fan of cutting government intrusion, and there isn’t a place that is riper for pruning than unfunded mandates and knee-jerk, unsubstantiated regulation, not just at the federal level but at the state and sometimes even the county level.
This means that whenever some official finds an event or something offensive or dangerous, there will be the ceremonial pearl-clutching followed by rules that limit or abolish the offensive action or sight, many time without the benefit of legislation passed by someone elected.
The EPA, and the state equivalent of the TCEQ, is a prime example. The insidious nature of agencies like these is found in the call for action couched in safety, or the phrase “If it saves one life, it’s worth it.” It’s that kind of reasoning that became the lynchpin for the climate cult to force change in everything from vehicle emissions to industry standards.
That same reasoning is found in just about everything the common folk use. The temperature that coffee is served, the need for dietary requirements to be printed on all food containers, procedures for filing grant paperworks — the list goes on. More than being intrusive, those regulations also trickle down to the common folk, just not in a good way, because it makes items more expensive.
It’s nice to see that the idea of saving the taxpayer — you know, we who are forced to foot the bill for governments — money and time is now trickling in to every corner of leadership.
Tony Farkas is editor of the San Jacinto News-Times and the Trinity County News-Standard. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
