Columbus, OH – The Buckeye Institute has released a new policy report titled "Beware the Trojan Horse of Rulemaking Nongovernment Organizations," which highlights potential regulatory threats posed by national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). These NGOs often present themselves as helpful entities offering advice and ready-made rules for policymakers.
Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, expressed concerns about the transparency of these organizations. "Well-meaning nongovernmental organizations often provide advice and pre-packaged uniform rules ready for policymakers to adopt," he stated. "But NGOs operate opaquely, with little public scrutiny, and their seemingly benign proposals can be a Trojan Horse leading to needless government regulations. Regulators and elected representatives should be wary of NGOs bearing gifts."
The report suggests several reforms to protect Ohio residents from regulations that may serve special interests:
1. **State Government Regulator Transparency**: State agency regulators should submit annual reports on NGO funding received and actions taken on relevant committees. All communications between state regulators and NGO staff should be included under state sunshine laws.
2. **Ensure NGOs Maintain Transparency**: NGOs should release publicly available annual reports, and state regulators should not join any NGO lacking this level of transparency.
3. **Enhanced Scrutiny of NGO-Inspired Model Regulations**: Elected officials must retain oversight over rulemaking processes and avoid automatic adoption of NGO-drafted rules.
4. **State-Specific Modification of NGO Model Regulations**: Policymakers should have the ability to modify broad-based proposals sponsored by NGOs to suit state-specific needs.
5. **Expand Public Input**: To ensure balanced perspectives, advisory committees should solicit input from consumer advocacy groups, academic experts, and small businesses when considering any rule associated with an NGO.
The Buckeye Institute's report emphasizes the need for vigilance in maintaining transparency and ensuring that regulations benefit the public rather than special interest groups.