Past Time for Commonsense Regulatory Reform | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: We are please to add the words of North Carolina Senator Thom Goolsby to our stable of right-thinking and most capable writers here at BCN. Senator Goolsby, a practicing lawyer from New Hanover County, is a competent voice for victim's rights, and a strong voice for the rule of law, in North Carolina's upper chamber. We wish him much success, and we thank him for his wise words to our readers here Downeast and beyond.

    North Carolina businesses have struggled mightily against the 15,000+ new regulations, amendments and rules that have been implemented in our state over the past decade. Our high unemployment rate and stagnant growth are proof that you cannot regulate an economy into riches.

    However, relief is on the horizon. The recent Senate bipartisan passage of SB612, the Regulatory Reform Act (RRA) of 2013, offers hope to struggling job-creators in our state.

    RRA will repeal and prevent state and local regulations that are more stringent than federal rules. Many of these mandates create confusion, forcing businesses to comply with standards that are inconsistent with federal rules that already factor in regional needs and variations.

    Beyond limiting the extent of state and local laws, RRA gives local governments the freedom to lease property for extended periods to private industry for alternative energy projects. Companies investing in long-term renewable energy facilities requested the additional time in order to amortize their significant, upfront investment in new forms of power.

    The legislation creates a fast-track approval process for storm water management system permits and sedimentation and erosion control plans. It speeds up the process by allowing plans to be approved without a technical review. This fast track approval can only occur if the application is sealed by a professional, licensed engineer. Such plans are required to meet minimum design criteria that will be developed by February 2014.

    RRA also gives everyone a buy-in on air and water quality permits. It allows any third party to contest decisions. Under current law, only permit applicants or permittees can contest decisions. The duration of such permits is further extended from eight to ten years.

    Senators from both parties agreed that outdated, job-killing government regulations are hurting our economy, without providing substantial benefits to our citizens. RRA was seen as a bipartisan attempt to remove serious roadblocks to job creation.

    Although no bill is perfect, RRA is a good faith attempt to get a handle on an out-of-control bureaucracy. State technocrats and previous lawmakers have been more adept at generating rules, amendments and regulations, instead of creating an environment that would produce much needed jobs.

    RRA is now headed to the North Carolina House where it will be further discussed and vetted during this long session. After many years of pretending that all problems can be solved by simply writing more laws, it is refreshing that the General Assembly is finally focusing on North Carolina businesses. For far too long, employers have been choked by government red tape. State leaders finally recognize that job-creators need reasonable freedoms to operate efficiently in order to compete and grow the economy of the Tar Heel State. It is about time!

    Thom Goolsby is a state senator, practicing attorney and law professor. He is a Co-Chair of Judiciary 1 and Justice & Public Safety Appropriations Committees.
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