Governor Little comments on the WSJ story on Idaho’s deregulation efforts

Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little today commented on a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) opinion piece this week that cited Idaho as a model for the federal government to cut red tape.

“In my first year as governor, the Legislature and I made Idaho the least regulated state in the country. We have shortened or simplified 95 percent of the regulations, thereby changing our administrative law. Since then, we have taken additional steps to ensure that Idaho’s regulations continue to be streamlined, user-friendly, and easy to understand. Our Zero-Based Regulation initiative will continue to reduce bureaucratic burdens in the future while ensuring security.

“Achieving such results requires turning the concept of regulation on its head, as James Broughel’s opinion piece notes. Idaho is leading the nation in cutting red tape because we have also fostered a genuine desire within agencies to streamline the regulations they administer. What Idaho is doing is working, and I can’t wait to pick up where we left off with the Trump administration in cutting red tape at all levels of government!” said Governor Little.

Commenting on the renewed focus on deregulation in light of President Trump’s historic return to the White House in January, James Broughel, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, wrote:

“Idaho has proven that deregulation is possible. As part of a sunset review process in 2019, the state repealed and revised its administrative regulations. The results were dramatic. Since then, 95% of government regulations have been eliminated or simplified. The sky has not fallen. Most regulations do not justify their existence when subjected to serious scrutiny.

“The federal government should learn from Idaho’s success. The result would be a regulatory system that is leaner, more efficient and responsive to the needs of the 21st century.”

Read the full WSJ commentary here: https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/wsj.com-recipe-for-regulation-Spring cleaning.pdf