4 ms·

Federal agencies do what they’re told. The restrictions on pseudoephedrine were mandated by Congress through the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (

Federal agencies do what they’re told. The restrictions on pseudoephedrine were mandated by Congress through the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (passed as part of the patriot act) which followed various state legislatures’ passages of similar laws. The main driving force behind the law was Bush’s White House drug task force and several members of Congress. Federal agencies very, very, rarely solicit or propose legislation like this. And Congress rarely asks for their input.

Ntrails 4y ago
> Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (passed as part of the patriot act) This change was passed under special anti-terrorist powers? (Not US so possible misunderstood)
- lazide 4y ago
  Not passed using special powers, included the huge ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ law passed to ‘fight terrorism’ after 9/11. https://www.aclu.org/other/myths-and-realities-about-patriot-act https://www.aclu.org/other/myths-and-realities-about-patriot...
- specialist 4y ago
  I found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Methamphetamine_Epidemic_Act_of_2005 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Methamphetamine_Epidemi... It was added as a part of a reauthorization of the original Patriot Act. US Federal policy making and legislation is a bit like calvinball. And for misc reasons, Congress tends to pass large (omnibus) bills, instead of more reasonable units of work. As an outsider looking in, I collect and read stuff about "the sausage factory". Here's one study that looks past the folk theories, to illuminate how some example laws came to be. Similarly comprehensive books could be written about most all major legislation. SYMPOSIUM: UNORTHODOX LAWMAKING, UNORTHODOX RULEMAKING https://www.columbialawreview.org/content/unorthodox-lawmaking-unorthodox-rulemaking/ https://www.columbialawreview.org/content/unorthodox-lawmaki... "The Schoolhouse Rock! cartoon version of the conventional legislative process is dead, if it was ever an accurate description in the first place. Major policy today is often the product of “unorthodox lawmaking” and “unorthodox rulemaking”—deviations from traditional process marked by frequent use of omnibus bills and multiple agency implementation; emergency statutes and regulations issued without prior comment; outsourcing to lawmaking commissions and unconventional delegates; process shortcuts outside of emergencies; presidential policymaking; and outside drafters, some nonpartisan and others hyperpartisan. These unorthodoxies are everywhere, and they have shifted the balance in the elected branches and beyond, often centralizing power in actors—like party leadership and the White House—not traditionally part of the core lawmaking and rulemaking processes. These unorthodoxies are the new textbook process." BOOK: Unorthodox Lawmaking: New Legislative Processes in the U.S. Congress [2017] https://sk.sagepub.com/cqpress/unorthodox-lawmaking-5e https://sk.sagepub.com/cqpress/unorthodox-lawmaking-5e
  - Ntrails 4y ago
    Super helpful - thanks!
eru 4y ago
> Federal agencies do what they’re told. Don't forget principa-agent problems.
TechBro8615 4y ago
> Federal agencies do what they’re told. Yes, the FDA often does what it's told by pharma companies.

Ntrails 4y ago

> Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (passed as part of the patriot act) This change was passed under special anti-terrorist powers? (Not US so possible misunderstood)

lazide 4y ago
Not passed using special powers, included the huge ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ law passed to ‘fight terrorism’ after 9/11. https://www.aclu.org/other/myths-and-realities-about-patriot-act https://www.aclu.org/other/myths-and-realities-about-patriot...
specialist 4y ago
I found this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Methamphetamine_Epidemic_Act_of_2005 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Methamphetamine_Epidemi... It was added as a part of a reauthorization of the original Patriot Act. US Federal policy making and legislation is a bit like calvinball. And for misc reasons, Congress tends to pass large (omnibus) bills, instead of more reasonable units of work. As an outsider looking in, I collect and read stuff about "the sausage factory". Here's one study that looks past the folk theories, to illuminate how some example laws came to be. Similarly comprehensive books could be written about most all major legislation. SYMPOSIUM: UNORTHODOX LAWMAKING, UNORTHODOX RULEMAKING https://www.columbialawreview.org/content/unorthodox-lawmaking-unorthodox-rulemaking/ https://www.columbialawreview.org/content/unorthodox-lawmaki... "The Schoolhouse Rock! cartoon version of the conventional legislative process is dead, if it was ever an accurate description in the first place. Major policy today is often the product of “unorthodox lawmaking” and “unorthodox rulemaking”—deviations from traditional process marked by frequent use of omnibus bills and multiple agency implementation; emergency statutes and regulations issued without prior comment; outsourcing to lawmaking commissions and unconventional delegates; process shortcuts outside of emergencies; presidential policymaking; and outside drafters, some nonpartisan and others hyperpartisan. These unorthodoxies are everywhere, and they have shifted the balance in the elected branches and beyond, often centralizing power in actors—like party leadership and the White House—not traditionally part of the core lawmaking and rulemaking processes. These unorthodoxies are the new textbook process." BOOK: Unorthodox Lawmaking: New Legislative Processes in the U.S. Congress [2017] https://sk.sagepub.com/cqpress/unorthodox-lawmaking-5e https://sk.sagepub.com/cqpress/unorthodox-lawmaking-5e
- Ntrails 4y ago
  Super helpful - thanks!

eru 4y ago

> Federal agencies do what they’re told. Don't forget principa-agent problems.

TechBro8615 4y ago

> Federal agencies do what they’re told. Yes, the FDA often does what it's told by pharma companies.