From 2009-17, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carried out “a regulatory spree unprecedented in U.S. history”—in scope, stringency, and costs, and with highly questionable justifi- cation. The costs of EPA rules dwarf the costs of all other executive branch agencies by a huge margin, accounting for $23 billion of $26 billion total regulatory costs in 2010. While the national econ- omy has been impaired, Texas’ prominent industrial and energy sectors were disproportionately affected.
Restoring Private Property Rights: Regulatory Takings
Municipal regulations like zoning ordinances can infringe on private property rights and distort the housing market. Key points: Private property rights are under threat from municipal zoning ordinances and design mandates. Texas law has failed to adequately protect property owners from regulatory takings. By closing the municipal loophole, Texas can be the national leader in...