Over regulation

74%: we’re over-regulated

September 13, 2011 by Don Surber

As Republicans prepare for 2012, they should read a new poll on regulations. The poll’s results explain why the president suddenly gives lip service to reducing regulations. The American people are fed up with the dictates from Washington on how to run a business. The poll by the Tarrance Group found that an overwhelming majority of Americans — 74% — feel businesses are over regulated. 73% say regulations raise prices. 60% said they will be hurt by “government regulations that dictate what light bulbs Americans must purchase.”

And 78% side with Boeing in its dispute with the NLRB — the National Labor Relations Board, which opposes the opening of Boeing’s new plant in South Carolina.

The key poll question was this: “As you may know, Boeing, a United States-‐based company that manufactures commercial airplanes, recently finished building a plant in South Carolina to build a new type of airplane. This new plant will create over 1,000 new full-­time jobs. But a federal agency sued Boeing before the plant’s opening, claiming that Boeing’s decision to locate in South Carolina was retaliation against union activities that occurred in Washington State where Boeing also has large plants employing union workers. Boeing disagrees with the federal government’s lawsuit, arguing that the investments in facilities and jobs in South Carolina are all new jobs, and even though they are non-­union positions they will not come at the expense of jobs held by union workers in any other state.”

78% said “Boeing should have right to open plant.”
18% said “Boeing’s plan is just payback.”

The poll’s results were an eye-opener. I will list some of the results.

1. Asked “which of the following do you associate most with dealing with the federal government and federal regulations?”

72% had negative answers:

31% said “Rules and restrictions that lack common sense”
27% said “Unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy”
14% said “Increased costs for American made products and services”

19% had positive answers:

12% said “Needed safety net for our most vulnerable citizens”
5% said “Helpful health and safety requirements”
2% said “Protections for customers from businesses”

2. Asked “As you may know, federal regulations are rules and restrictions issued by the federal government that impact large and small businesses, as well as consumers. In thinking about this, do you believe that, as a nation, Americans are over-regulated or under-regulated?”

74% said over-regulated
18% said under-regulated

3. Asked “Based on what you know, would you say that the overall number of federal government regulations has increased or decreased over the past few years, or has the level of regulations stayed about the same?”

67% said increased
6% said decreased

4. Asked “Based on what you know, who or what would you say creates the federal regulations that are placed on businesses and other organizations in the United States?”

52% said Congress
27% said federal agencies
8% said the president
5% said the courts

5. Asked “The federal government writes and implements hundreds of regulations each year. Regulations that have an economic impact of over $100 million dollars are often referred to as “major regulations.” Based on what you know, who is impacted the most by major federal regulations?”

38% said consumers
37% said small business
21% said large companies

6. Asked “Based on what you know, what is the most likely result from major new federal regulations placed on American businesses?”

47% said job losses
22% said “Increased prices for American made goods and services”
15% said “Better health, safety and well-being for citizens”

7. 60% said “Government regulations that dictate what light bulbs Americans must purchase” will have a negative impact on them.

8. 57% said “Government regulations that tell American businesses which workers they have to hire” will have a negative impact on them.

9. 59% said “Government regulations that try to control the banking and financial industry” will have a negative impact on them.

10. Only 26% said “Government regulations that require controls to ensure better safety at schools and in the workplace” will have a negative impact on them.

11. Only 20% said “Government regulations that require certain safety levels for drinking water” will have a negative impact on them.

So not all regulations are considered evil.

12. 73% said “Some people say that every time the federal government mandates a new regulation on America’s large and small businesses, the prices of American made goods and services like gasoline and food go up” versus 22% who said “Other people say that while many federal government regulations might be just another burden to operations of America’s large and small businesses, customers do not see major cost increases for American made goods and services like gasoline and food.”

13. 56% said “Some people say that adding more and more government involvement and regulation to the process of overseeing business means you have less accountability because everyone assumes someone else is in charge” versus 38% who said “Other people say that adding more and more government involvement and regulation to the process of overseeing business means you have more accountability because there are more people involved in oversight.”

14. Asked “As you may know, some regulations now become law without the approval of Congress. However, Congress is considering legislation that would require major new regulations on businesses, non-profit organizations or state and local governments first be voted on by Congress and receive sign-off from the President before they can be enforced. Based on what you have heard, do you favor or oppose this legislation to require major new federal regulations be approved by Congress and the President before they can be enforced?”

68% favor
30% oppose

This report dovetails well with The Surber Rule: “The economy should win the presidency for Republicans in 2012. Republicans should talk about nothing else.”

Republicans can add over-regulation to their attack on Obamanomics. The full memo on the poll is here.