Started by Gio Wiederhold, 16 January 2000, updated 23 Jan 2002, 16, 23, 24 Jan 2003..
Laws are framed, discussed, and passed by
Congress, or by state assemblies. Should not conflict. Can be challenged. The
Supreme court is the final arbiter, but does not always get involved.
Rules are needed to define the implementation
of laws. More detail, more interaction with the affected people, both with
beneficiaries (people, animals!, ...) and regulated, i.e., impacted parties.
Much opportunities for lobbying to weaken divert the intent of laws. Much less
politically visible, but very high leverage.
Public input is desirable, but requires
dissemination to interested parties of what is happening. Use the Web! Interim
Website to be launched 1/23/03 : ERegulation
run by NARA, with FDA and EPA rules, hosted at GPO, rapid implementation, no
use case, Software is by Fusion Oracle Other Internet/intranet web sites at
agencies - portals, required as of November 2002.
http://www.egovcentral.gov/.
http://www.firstgov.gov early site.
When should what kind of involvement occur?
Law and Statutes - political input is quite hidden and unlikely to be obtainable --- is agency known?
Setting of Priorities -- Over a thousand federal regulations per year have to be processed.
How to do it Idea - Problem definition with references - scoping -- collect stake holders, industries by SIC code, proactive notification -->
Formulate the regulation (with OIRA blessing) Organize information - Assessory analysis- provide simulation with on-line impact analysis based on models that make assumptions explicit - as a webservice (make internal models visible) - 3 years -->
- Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (with OIRA blessing - should be on the Unified Regulatory Agenda -but often ignored, only published 2 / year)- (+ public now) [Example June 2003? Small business paperwork reduction act] -- xx years -->
- Evaluation and Decision process (with OIRA blessing) [NYTimes 22Jan03 "Staff of SEC dilutes rulemaking"] --->
Final rule published in Federal Register, with date of effectiveness.
What kind of involvement?
messages to be collected by the rulemakers? Requires analysis to see what useful, what is junk. Clustering to find trends and weights.
Assistance for collaboration. Locate peoplre who have similar opinions to get better quality and focused representation?
Access to simulations to assess what the likely outcome of alternate scenarios, with visible assumptions on cost, effect. etc.
Unified source of information about people for passport, census with address list, voting, Drivers licenses, Other permits, Social Security, military draft, locating criminals, facility planning (Hospital, schools, needed utility services), locating parties affected by rules (positive and negative):
.
Do benefits outweigh the cost?