Regulatory Reform

Regulatory reform, a goal given fervent lip service by both major parties, is dangerously near a political dead end. Voters who see a need to protect health, safety and the environment while freeing the economy of unnecessary government rules and red tape will not be pleased -- nor should they.In September 1993, Vice President Al Gore presented President Clinton with stacks of government documents to make the case for reform. "Thousands upon thousands of outdated, overlapping regulations remain in place," he reported, adding that a 1993 study said regulations cost the private sector at least $430 billion annually.

I urge my fellow citizens not to give in to despair over the choices being offered in this year's presidential elections. As an independent who is fiscally conservative, socially liberal and believes there is an appropriate role for government in our lives, I ask you to consider Buddy Roemer for president. We need economic reform, regulatory reform, tax reform, health care reform and education reform. But unless we achieve campaign finance reform, there's not chance of getting sensible reforms in any of these areas.

Jumping into the debate on regulatory reform, the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health yesterday launched an institute on risk intended to ensure that government rules protect people from real hazards without unduly burdening businesses.Hopkins officials unveiled their Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute at a news briefing in Baltimore, saying that government regulators too often have ignored scientists' advice.The institute is to be underwritten by a $1.85 million grant from CSX Corp.

Whether it was overshadowed by the East Coast earthquake or merely a victim of public indifference, President Barack Obama's latest effort to reduce regulatory red tape drew all the excitement of Brussels sprouts for dinner. Only the true policy wonks may have found it satisfying, while conservative Republicans thumbed their collective noses and even the business community reacted with a yawn. If the reforms announced Tuesday were intended to establish Mr. Obama's bona fides as some kind of sop to business as part of his reelection campaign, then they clearly fell short.

The executive director of the Health Resources Planning Commission resigned abruptly last week. James R. Stanton had directed the commission for 16 years.Stanton's resignation came as the General Assembly, which has considered bills the past two years that would have merged the planning commission with two other health regulatory bodies, once again put regulatory reform on the legislative agenda.Stanton said yesterday that the commission met last week in executive session, "and I informed the commission I would leave my position within the next year in order to facilitate discussion of health regulatory reform without making it look like I was trying to maintain my job or agency."

House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. said yesterday that he plans to convene a "legislative retreat" in the fall to consider health regulatory reform.In addition to being attended by key legislative leaders, he said, the meeting would include representatives from the state hospital association, the state medical society, the health maintenance organization industry and other interest groups.A Taylor-backed regulatory reform bill attracted wide support in the last legislative session but stalled at the end amid disputes over details.

MARYLAND RACING is limping along these days, unsure of the future and alarmed about recent trends. The advent of slot machines at two Delaware tracks already has cost Maryland racing business and threatens local track viability.In just one month, slots at two Delaware tracks took in $68 million and kept $8.3 million to enlarge racing purses. That has Maryland officials alarmed. Already, Rosecroft Raceway has been staggered by the loss of quality harness horses and bettors. What will happen in April, when a cash-flush Delaware Park goes head-to-head with Baltimore's Pimlico?

As part of an effort to improve Maryland's business climate, Gov. Parris N. Glendening yesterday signed an executive order requiring state agencies to justify regulations whenever they are stricter than federal rules.The order will not prevent agencies from adopting regulations tougher than federal standards, but could make it more difficult. The written justification will be reviewed by agency heads, the governor and a legislative committee with authority over rule-making before new regulations can be adopted.

WASHINGTON -- Republican Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett voted with House Speaker Newt Gingrich on every provision of the GOP's "Contract with America" -- a claim no other member of the Maryland delegation can make."

Reading by 9The Sun is seeking letters from elementary schoolchildren about their favorite books and reading experiences. Selected letters will be edited and published in the editorial pages.Letters should be no longer than 200 words and should include the name and address of the writer, along with day and evening telephone numbers.Send letters to Letters to the Editor, The Sun, P.O. Box 1377, Baltimore 21278-0001. Our fax number for letters is 410-332-6977. The e-mail address is letteraltsun.

Americans are still bubbling with anger over the twisted culture and shoddy ethics at AIG, the insurance giant where employees who gambled billions and lost now have received $174 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses for helping to clean up the mess. The bonuses were supposedly intended to retain key workers, but many have taken the money and run. The more people learn, the angrier they get. But in its fury, the nation must not forget the recession's larger tragedy of lost life savings, jobs, homes and dreams caused by recent widespread regulatory failure and greed, personal and corporate.

The executive director of the Health Resources Planning Commission resigned abruptly last week. James R. Stanton had directed the commission for 16 years.Stanton's resignation came as the General Assembly, which has considered bills the past two years that would have merged the planning commission with two other health regulatory bodies, once again put regulatory reform on the legislative agenda.Stanton said yesterday that the commission met last week in executive session, "and I informed the commission I would leave my position within the next year in order to facilitate discussion of health regulatory reform without making it look like I was trying to maintain my job or agency."

House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. said yesterday that he plans to convene a "legislative retreat" in the fall to consider health regulatory reform.In addition to being attended by key legislative leaders, he said, the meeting would include representatives from the state hospital association, the state medical society, the health maintenance organization industry and other interest groups.A Taylor-backed regulatory reform bill attracted wide support in the last legislative session but stalled at the end amid disputes over details.

Reading by 9The Sun is seeking letters from elementary schoolchildren about their favorite books and reading experiences. Selected letters will be edited and published in the editorial pages.Letters should be no longer than 200 words and should include the name and address of the writer, along with day and evening telephone numbers.Send letters to Letters to the Editor, The Sun, P.O. Box 1377, Baltimore 21278-0001. Our fax number for letters is 410-332-6977. The e-mail address is letteraltsun.

TO PARAPHRASE Ronald Reagan: Bill Jews, there you go again. We cannot make successful health policy in Maryland by relying on cliches and revisionism that considers only selected facts of the complex balance between the market and regulation, and offers a vague "let the market work" solution feasible only in a perfect world with perfect conditions.The paradox of invoking Adam Smith's name is that Smith supported government intervention in areas of the public good. In his day, this meant government responsibility for things such as physical infrastructure.

MARYLAND RACING is limping along these days, unsure of the future and alarmed about recent trends. The advent of slot machines at two Delaware tracks already has cost Maryland racing business and threatens local track viability.In just one month, slots at two Delaware tracks took in $68 million and kept $8.3 million to enlarge racing purses. That has Maryland officials alarmed. Already, Rosecroft Raceway has been staggered by the loss of quality harness horses and bettors. What will happen in April, when a cash-flush Delaware Park goes head-to-head with Baltimore's Pimlico?

I urge my fellow citizens not to give in to despair over the choices being offered in this year's presidential elections. As an independent who is fiscally conservative, socially liberal and believes there is an appropriate role for government in our lives, I ask you to consider Buddy Roemer for president. We need economic reform, regulatory reform, tax reform, health care reform and education reform. But unless we achieve campaign finance reform, there's not chance of getting sensible reforms in any of these areas.

PHILADELPHIA -- As he nears his 72nd birthday next weekend, Sen. Bob Dole has lived a lifetime in Republican politics. "I've been in it for a while," he reminded party leaders yesterday.His 4 1/2 decades of experience are showing these days, as Mr. Dole gives his rivals for the presidential nomination a lesson in how to wage a front-running campaign. The Kansas senator waltzed into and out of this weekend's big Republican gathering in Philadelphia while his opponents stood around waiting for him to stumble but afraid to try to trip him.In his speech, Mr. Dole all but ignored the other eight candidates, except to say that "they're all friends of mine."

It's not so easy to move when you are poorMarc Fisher, in a Feb. 2 letter ("Tenants should have moved out of squalor") concerning reports that Jack Reed, a superintendent of city housing inspectors, is the owner of substandard housing units, questioned why the tenants did not move.He seems to be suffering from the same lack of insight as Marie Antoinette, who, when advised during the French Revolution that the people had no bread, said: ''Let them eat cake.'' Wherewould Mr. Fischer have them go?