The Future of E-rulemaking: Promoting Public Participation and Efficiency

Brookings Institution
Tuesday, Nov 30, 2010
9:30am - noon
http://www.brookings.edu/events/2010/1130_electronic_rulemaking.aspx

Electronic rulemaking, or e-rulemaking, provides government agencies with the use of digital technologies to streamline cumbersome decision-making processes. But, as with all brave new world approaches to better governance, the new technology raises new questions

On November 30, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings and the Administrative Conference of the United States will host a public forum to explore how new technologies can promote more effective public participation and greater efficiency in the rulemaking process. Administrative Conference Chairman Paul Verkuil will provide introductory remarks and Cass Sunstein, the senior White House official on regulatory review, will explain the administration’s commitment to e-rulemaking. Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies, will moderate the discussion.

The first panel, consisting of senior state and federal officials, will review progress in meeting the challenges that have arisen in the implementation of electronic rulemaking. Sally Katzen, who chaired the Committee on the State and Future of Federal e-Rulemaking, will outline how technology can enhance agency expertise and consistency in making regulations. Leading academics during the second panel will discuss the technology's potential to improve public participation and fidelity to legislative mandates.

After each presentation, speakers and panelists will take questions from the audience.

Introductory Remarks
Paul Verkuil
Chairman
Administrative Conference of the United States

Keynote Address
Cass Sunstein
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget

Moderator
Darrell M. West
Vice President and Director, Governance Studies

Panel 1: Digitization – Past, Present, and Short-Term Future
Neil Eisner
Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement
U.S. Department of Transportation

Scott D. Pattison
Executive Director
National Association of State Budget Officers

Steven VanRoekel
Managing Director
Federal Communications Commission

Presentation: Leveraging Technology to Enhance Agency Expertise
Sally Katzen
Senior Advisor
Podesta Group

Panel 2: Transforming the Process
Gary Bass
Director
OMB Watch

Jerry Brito
Senior Research Fellow
Mercatus Center, George Mason University

Stuart Shulman
Assistant Professor
University of Massachusetts at Amherst