Business Quote by Roger Pilon
“[T]he vast regulatory structure the federal government has erected in the name of the commerce power cannot be ended overnight, in many cases, but the pretense that such programs are constitutional can be ended, even as the programs themselves are phased out over time.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Regulatory Review, 2015
Federal regulations built on commerce power are entrenched; while their constitutional justification can be removed, the programs themselves fade gradually.
In simple terms: Regulations are hard to dismantle quickly, even if their legal basis is removed.
Plan phased reforms rather than abrupt cuts.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy reform
- budget cuts
- agency restructuring
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies can accelerate the phase‑out of outdated programs?
- How can stakeholders be engaged to support regulatory change?
Political resistance can slow or block reforms.