We have a special feature today at @theprospect that is going to seem unbelievably obscure and off-topic. But in a time when government response on worker safety and public health is paramount, we're going to have to talk about something called OIRA. prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
OIRA is this little agency of economists inside the Office of Management and Budget responsible for vetting and approving regulations across the government. It has become a choke point for active government action that saves and protects lives.
There is little debate on the left that OIRA has become an impediment to bold governance, but there is some debate about the way forward. @theprospect is hosting that debate today. Should OIRA be refashioned to support a progressive agenda, or abandoned? prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
On the "expand OIRA" side: @toddntucker and Rajesh Nayak, who wrote a long paper on the subject, believing that OIRA can be modernized to "support progressive structural change and center equity"
prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
On the "abandon OIRA" side: Kalen Pruss from @econliberties, who says "it is important not to confuse good programs run badly with programs designed to subvert progressive goals.... OIRA falls into the latter camp" prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
Plus, we have Sharon Block of Harvard Law, noting how the pandemic emphasizes even further the need for a reimagined OIRA prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
And Todd Phillips (not the director) likes some of what Tucker and Nayak propose, but not the idea that you can somehow alter cost-benefit analysis to fit progressive ends. prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
This policy roundtable fits with our goal at @theprospect to identify where power lies in America and its government, and discuss the ideas that can make sure that power serves the public interest. Important stuff, check it out! prospect.org/day-one-agenda…
