Mayer: Senate Advances Bill Curbing Excessive Rules and Regulations

Measure Would Help Tear Down Economic Barriers for All Businesses

JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri business owners moved one step closer to greater freedom from excessive and overly burdensome state rules and regulations when the Missouri Senate voted 28 to 6 today to advance Senate Bill 469. Sponsor Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, noted it is one of several Senate bills aimed at putting Missourians back to work.

“An important part of the jobs solution is making sure Missourians can exercise their freedom to earn a living,” said Dixon. “Burdensome regulations can be barriers that stifle job growth and make Missouri less competitive. This is one way we can go back to basics and make government work for Missourians.”

In an October 2011 Gallup poll, small-business owners ranked compliance with government regulations as the most important problem facing them today.

Senate Bill 469 would require state agencies to review and reconsider regulations on a regular basis. The bill would increase agency accountability and improve legislative oversight.

Each regulation must be reviewed regularly to determine whether it is outdated, duplicative, conflicts with other rules, is burdensome or narrowly tailored and then agencies must make necessary changes while still providing adequate protection of the public.

“We can’t let small businesses be buried in red tape on the one hand and expect them to create jobs on the other hand,” said Dixon.

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, outlined the bill as a priority to help improve Missouri’s business climate in his opening day address to the Senate. Mayer said the measure is part of a comprehensive package of bills aimed at helping spur job creation.

“Few things can bring private sector growth to a halt more quickly than overly contrived red tape. That is why we must tear down the walls that are economic barriers to all Missouri businesses,” Mayer said. “The Senate has now advanced a number of bills, including curbing excessive and overly burdensome regulations that affect all business – big and small.”

The measure now moves to the House for similar consideration. To learn more about this bill or to track its progress, visit www.senate.mo.gov.