Obama mending fences with the business community

[we vs us]

From the AP, via Tulsa World:

WASHINGTON — Taking another step toward mending his relationship with the business community, President Barack Obama on Tuesday ordered a review of federal regulations with an eye toward getting rid of those that stifle job creation and hurt economic growth.

The president signed an executive order telling federal agencies to look for rules that place an unreasonable burden on businesses. Specifically, Obama said any regulations must reduce uncertainty, be written in plain language, be built upon public participation, and identify the "least burdensome tools" for achieving the goals of the new government rules.

[snip]

Since [the November elections], the White House has steadily courted support from the business community: Obama held a five-hour meeting with CEOs in December; he named William Daley, a business executive, as his new chief of staff; and next month, he'll speak at the Chamber of Commerce, a trade group that has battled his top policy
initiatives on health care and financial regulation.

Also, here's Obama's editorial in the WSJ. 

To me, what's most important about this isn't so much the relatively short term relationship work he's doing with the business community (they were going to start spending soon, anyway, IMO, and have in fact already started), but more to showcase the ability of a particular leader to have an effect on the rules structure of the federal government.  Obama has always tried to reposition the old too much government/too little government argument as a question rather of dumb vs smart government and for my money that's a smart move, because "size" of government is relative, and not always a good measure of effectiveness. 

[Conan71]

"But we are also making it our mission to root out regulations that conflict, that are not worth the cost, or that are just plain dumb."

"But creating a 21st-century regulatory system is about more than which rules to add and which rules to subtract. As the executive order I am signing makes clear, we are seeking more affordable, less intrusive means to achieve the same ends—giving careful consideration to benefits and costs. This means writing rules with more input from experts, businesses and ordinary citizens. It means using disclosure as a tool to inform consumers of their choices, rather than restricting those choices. And it means making sure the government does more of its work online, just like companies are doing.

We're also getting rid of absurd and unnecessary paperwork requirements that waste time and money. We're looking at the system as a whole to make sure we avoid excessive, inconsistent and redundant regulation. And finally, today I am directing federal agencies to do more to account for—and reduce—the burdens regulations may place on small businesses. Small firms drive growth and create most new jobs in this country. We need to make sure nothing stands in their way."

Kudos Mr. President.  I like this common sense approach.  I don't have a problem with the size of government nor funding it so long as it's effective, efficient, and relevant to our needs.  Unfortunately it's not and I applaud that he not only sees that but is doing something about it.

This is the second thing I've seen recently which indicates either he's far less radical than originally thought.  Either that or he played the game the more liberal factions wanted the first two years, now they are out of power in the House, he's trying to appeal to the middle.

What ever the reason for the recent changes, whether it's the real Obama stepping out from behind people no longer in the administration or different advisors having influence doesn't really matter.  The message is more relevant to what people want to hear and what they would expect in a leader.  He truly sounds Presidential with this initiative, taking a firm leadership role.

Oh, I'm laughing hard at the tag line at the bottom of the guest ed:

"Mr. Obama is president of the United States"

Like anyone reading WSJ wouldn't know....

[Townsend]

Oh, I'm laughing hard at the tag line at the bottom of the guest ed:

"Mr. Obama is president of the United States"

Like anyone reading WSJ wouldn't know....

That was for the Birthers.

[buckeye]

At first glance, I read the subject as "Obama mending feces with the business community".

[Conan71]

At first glance, I read the subject as "Obama mending feces with the business community".

"Mending feces".  I think that's what you call the clean up after the sh!t hits the fan.