WASHINGTON—The National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business have joined forces to call for reforms in what they say is an overly complex and inefficient government regulatory process.
NAM and NFIB announced the new alliance Feb. 26 during a panel discussion on federal regulation hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives during its week-long focus on regulations, the two associations said.
They also said they will call on their grassroots networks to engage with Congress and the Obama administration on the need for regulatory reform.
"This is a strong and necessary partnership because manufacturers and small businesses face a disproportionate burden of all regulatory costs," said Jay Timmons, NAM's president and CEO. "While manufacturers recognize the need for regulation, the scope and complexity of rules have made it harder to do business and compete in recent years."
"Poll after poll indicates most Americans feel Washington is doing too much, too fast on regulations," said Dan Danner, NFIB's president and CEO. "Time and time again, we hear from our members about the complex regulatory climate and how, with a little more transparency and openness, the regulations would be more effective and work more efficiently for everyone."
In 2013 alone, business owners and manufacturers spent more than 67 million hours filling out regulatory paperwork at a total cost of about $112 billion, NAM and NFIB said.
Among the other panelists in the Feb. 26 discussion were former Virginia Gov. George Allen, former Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Public Citizen President Robert Weissman.