Issue Position: Curb The Excesses of "Independent" Agencies
Issue Position
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
President Obama refused to even comment on the NLRB's attempt to block Boeing from relocating and
creating jobs in South Carolina, a policy that will encourage American manufacturers to move to China
and other low-cost nations, rather than to right-to-work states here in America. The NLRB's policy is a
reckless assault upon our nation's free-market system. Gov. Huntsman will immediately instruct the
NLRB to stop pursuing this politically-motivated attack on free enterprise, and if they fail to do so, he
will replace them.
Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC)
In exercising its vast new Dodd-Frank authority over derivatives markets, the CFTC refuses to seriously
examine whether the costs of the regulations outweigh their benefits. For example, the CFTC proposes
to impose strict regulations on non-financial companies that use derivatives as part of their ordinary
business operations. Those regulations would have a massive impact on agriculture, energy, and credit
markets -- sidelining trillions of dollars of capital.
The CFTC's regulations also contradict Congress' clear instruction that "end users" of derivatives not be
subject to such heavy regulation. As President, Gov. Huntsman will demand the CFTC undertake
serious cost-benefit analysis before implementing any regulations.
Privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
We must wind down so-called Government Sponsored Enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Today,
the White House continues to use these institutions to perpetuate a failed intervention in the housing
market, which costs taxpayers billions of dollars and prevents a natural stabilization. As President, Gov.
Huntsman will scale back homeownership subsidies and privatize Fannie and Freddie.
Mandate Cost-Benefit Fundamentals at Agencies
The White House should demand that all government agencies, including the "independent" ones,
adhere to a fundamental framework of applying cost-benefit analysis prior to imposing potentially
harmful and costly regulations. Gov. Huntsman will require agency administrators to follow this policy.
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