During this election cycle, candidates across the country love to promise to “cut regulations.” While the phrase sounds appealing, it rarely offers any concrete plan. A former lawyer for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority shares a personal example that illustrates why the slogan is often empty.

From Turnpike Rules to Federal Policy

At the Turnpike Authority, a quasi‑public agency overseen by a three‑member board appointed by the governor, the author witnessed a direct push to reduce regulations. After a board shift from Democrat to Republican, a staffer from Governor William Weld’s office delivered a vague directive: the governor wanted the agency’s regulations “reduced.” Those rules, such as requiring a state police escort for oversized loads, were stricter than those on other interstate highways.

Rather than conducting a thorough review—comparing the Turnpike’s rules with state Department of Transportation standards, consulting police, trucking firms, and the public—the agency was expected to simply trim regulations without clear criteria. The author notes that proper regulatory review demands time, expertise, and public comment, safeguards designed to prevent agencies from acting “arbitrary and capricious.”

Trump Administration’s Parallel Approach

The author draws a parallel to the current Trump administration, which, in the author’s view, frequently issues directives that bypass detailed analysis, leading to arbitrary rule‑making. The so‑called DOGE effort is cited as a recent example of reckless regulatory reduction.

When asked how to measure a “reduction,” the staffer offered no specifics—no target for fewer provisions, pages, or lines of text. Six months later, the author left the agency, later returning to public service as a deputy secretary of transportation, where a comprehensive reform finally merged the Turnpike into the state DOT, standardizing regulations statewide.

What Cutting Regulations Should Look Like

Effective regulatory reform requires a systematic, ongoing review to identify rules that can be simplified or eliminated without compromising health, safety, or welfare. Engaging the businesses and individuals most affected provides the best starting point.

While the promise to cut regulations makes a catchy campaign sound bite, the real work involves detailed analysis, stakeholder input, and adherence to legal standards. Without that, the slogan remains empty, disappearing after Election Day.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.