I’m running for governor of Ohio. I have a plan to slice through red tape tyranny
Mark Twain once quipped, “No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.” In the 1800s, his wit was aimed at lawmakers — but if he were alive today, he’d likely reserve his sharpest criticism for unelected bureaucrats, who often wield more power than those we elect. Unlike legislators, these regulators don’t take recesses. They’re “in session” 40 hours a week, every week, quietly issuing rules that extend into nearly every corner of American life.
Most Americans are aware that federal agencies — the infamous “alphabet soup” in Washington — have overstepped. But the problem is just as pervasive, and perhaps more dangerous, in all 50 state capitals. The truth is simple: in today’s America, the regulatory state isn’t solving problems — it is the problem.
Take my home state of Ohio, where one state licensing board recently went after a small Cincinnati engineering firm. Its offense? Hiring a licensed engineer as an independent contractor instead of a full-time employee — even though Ohio law only requires a “full-time” engineer, with no mention of employment status.
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