GAO study suggests agencies can improve public notice, federal judge rejects IRS attempt to regulate tax preparers, and more.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report suggesting that pharmaceutical firms producing brand name drugs may have engaged in anticompetitive patent dispute settlements, leading to higher drug prices for consumers last year.
- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study revealing that agencies often fail to provide notice of proposed rules, rendering those rules unavailable for public comment.
- The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau (BJEPB) invited public comments on its new draft regulations to address the Chinese air pollution crisis.
- A federal judge struck down the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulatory initiative seeking to increase federal oversight over tax preparers.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairperson Elisse Walter, announced that finalizing the long-awaited rules for cross-border swaps under the Dodd-Frank Act is at the top of the agency’s agenda.
- The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MHSA) published a Pattern of Violations final rule, making it easier for MHSA to shut down mines where there is a pattern of significant and substantial violations.
- The Supreme Court declined to review an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that restricts sulfur dioxide emissions.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint against American eVoice, Ltd. and several other Montana-based companies for allegedly charging customers over $70 million in fraudulent charges.
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its new microloan program for small and beginning farmers.
- For the first time, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) barred a ratings company from issuing ratings on certain bonds as part of a settlement agreement.
- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) extended its deadline for reviewing a rule that will affect the management of swaps reporting data, following a challenge by a financial corporation that is considering taking legal action against the regulator.
