Sen. Rand Paul pushes REINS Act to curb federal power

The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act has been proposed as a significant reform to address the delegation of legislative authority to federal agencies. Originally established under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in 1996, the CRA allows Congress to revoke rules with presidential support, but this has rarely occurred due to the political alignment required. The new version of the REINS Act, introduced by Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. Kat Cammack, aims to strengthen congressional oversight and curb the power of the Administrative State. The updated REINS Act goes beyond its predecessor by requiring congressional approval for costly regulations and guidance documents, thereby restoring accountability in the regulatory process. This reform is particularly important in light of the Supreme Court's rejection of the Chevron Doctrine, which previously allowed courts to defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes. While this judicial oversight is crucial, it is not sufficient on its own to prevent regulatory overreach. The new act also streamlines the process for rescinding unnecessary regulations by exempting deregulatory actions from its restrictions. Additionally, it addresses the failure of some rules and guidance documents to be properly submitted to Congress and the Government Accountability Office, as mandated by the CRA. This ensures that significant regulatory actions receive the necessary democratic scrutiny. Ultimately, the REINS Act represents a crucial step toward restoring accountability not only to federal agencies but also to Congress itself. By requiring legislative approval for major regulations, it aims to ensure that the American people are governed fairly by their elected representatives, rather than by unaccountable bureaucrats.