YES!!! After 25 years in government, I think about this all the time… when anyone talks about the need to increase government efficiency, they should realize that amending/getting rid of this statute would be one of the most effective things they could do!
Great piece. Based on my decade of experience as a fed, I have no doubt that PRA prevents agencies from even attempting to collect data that would inform process improvements; I’ve seen it happen first-hand, and it absolutely reduces efficiency and costs taxpayers. Common sense reform is badly needed.
Jen knows I love all things PRA and have ranted against it for years. And this is something that so often happens. A rule/reg/law that makes sense in 1995 (before the internet and wide adoption of email) doesn’t make sense later. Unfortunately - Congress is set up less and less to surface, review, and update or cut policies like this.
Makes you wonder about an alternative reality where we just don't name specific acts or rules-- how many people have been skeptical of getting rid of the "Paperwork Reduction Act" because it sounds good-- who would be against paperwork reduction?
Maybe mentally easier to scrap something with a name like "statue 1804 B" or whatever
Great piece! See also what I wrote in late 2023: https://goodscienceproject.org/articles/the-paperwork-reduction-act-is-terrible-and-we-should-eliminate-or-reform-it/
YES!!! After 25 years in government, I think about this all the time… when anyone talks about the need to increase government efficiency, they should realize that amending/getting rid of this statute would be one of the most effective things they could do!
Couldn’t agree more!! Thanks for the comment Jennifer!
Its always fun to see how the CHIPs team handeld problems like this. I really appreciate the post.
Great piece. Based on my decade of experience as a fed, I have no doubt that PRA prevents agencies from even attempting to collect data that would inform process improvements; I’ve seen it happen first-hand, and it absolutely reduces efficiency and costs taxpayers. Common sense reform is badly needed.
Jen knows I love all things PRA and have ranted against it for years. And this is something that so often happens. A rule/reg/law that makes sense in 1995 (before the internet and wide adoption of email) doesn’t make sense later. Unfortunately - Congress is set up less and less to surface, review, and update or cut policies like this.
Excellent piece
Makes you wonder about an alternative reality where we just don't name specific acts or rules-- how many people have been skeptical of getting rid of the "Paperwork Reduction Act" because it sounds good-- who would be against paperwork reduction?
Maybe mentally easier to scrap something with a name like "statue 1804 B" or whatever
Nothin is new under the sun. See the film Ikuru.