Collins’ Bill Gets Through House

A bill introduced by 9th District U.S. Representative Doug Collins makes it through the House of Representatives.

On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 712, Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act.

Collins said the bill would end a practice known as “sue and settle” and bring transparency to the bureaucratic rulemaking process.

According to Collins, “sue and settle” cases are arrangements between pro-regulatory special interest groups and complicit federal agencies where there is often no participation by affected parties like states and local governments, small businesses, or farmers, who are then forced to comply with the regulations.

He said this bill would mandate that lawsuits can only be filed after interested parties have had the opportunity to intervene in the litigation and join settlement negotiations, and after any proposed consent decree or settlement has been published online for at least 60 days to provide for public comment.

Collins said it is about fairness and simplicity and restore transparency, public participation, and judicial review protections to the rulemaking process.