Retailers dissatisfied with Obama reg reform

The National Retail Federation said Tuesday that plans to streamline regulations announced by the White House do not go nearly far enough to end job-stifling regulations.

The group said it wants a host of regulations — including many implementing the Obama healthcare reform law — stopped.

“It’s time to stop the presses at government agencies and on Capitol Hill and focus on reform of what’s already on the books,” said David French, NRF senior vice president for government relations.

NRF also cited a National Labor Relations Board proposal to ease union elections, barriers to textile imports and new online consumer privacy rules put in place by the Department of Commerce. It also wants visa restrictions on Chinese and other tourists imposed after Sept. 11, 2001, to be eased to boost shopping by visitors to the United States.

French also noted that the nearly 500 proposals announced Tuesday, estimated to save businesses at least $10 billion per year, must actually be implemented.

“If we look back a year from now and these regulations are still in place or have barely been touched, then this will all have been an exercise in lip service,” he said.