Ben Carson presidential campaign, 2016/Government regulations

	; ; Presidential candidate; Ben Carson
	Profession: ; Retired Pediatric Neurosurgeon;
	Carson on the issues:
	Taxes • Banking policy • Government regulations • Budgets • Agricultural subsidies • Federal assistance programs • Foreign affairs • Federalism • Natural resources • Healthcare • Immigration • Education • Abortion • Gay rights
	Republican candidate:
	Donald Trump
	Ballotpedia's presidential election coverage; 2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016

Ben Carson announced his presidential run on May 3, 2015.^[1]

Ballotpedia's scope changes periodically, and this article type is no longer actively created or maintained. It may also contain neutrality issues.

This page was current as of the 2016 election.

During the ninth Republican presidential primary debate on February 13, 2016, Ben Carson voiced his concerns with government regulations: “We've got all these government regulators, and all they're doing is running around looking for people to fine. And, we've got 645 different federal agencies, and sub-agencies. Way, way too many, and they don't have anything else to do. I think what we really need to do is start trimming the regulatory agencies rather than going after the people who are trying to increase the viability, economic viability of our society. Now, that doesn't mean there aren't some people out there who are doing bad things. But, I'm not sure that the way to solve that problem is by increasing all the regulatory burden. You know, when you consider how much regulations cost us each year, you know? $2 trillion dollars per family, $24,000 per family, that happens to be the same level as the poverty level… For a family of four. If you want to get rid of poverty, get rid of all the regulations.”^[2]

Asked about prescription drug prices at the third Republican debate, held on October 28, 2015, Ben Carson said that the issue is one of intrusive government regulations. Carson said, "What we have to start thinking about, as leaders, particularly in government, is what can we do for the average American? And you think about the reasons that we're having such difficulty right now with our job market. Well, the average small manufacturer, whatever they're manufacturing, drugs or anything, if they have less than 50 employees, the average cost in terms of regulations is $34,000 per employee. Makes it a whole lot easier for them to want to go somewhere else. So what we're going to have to start doing instead of, you know, picking on this group or this group, is we're going to have to have a major reduction in the regulatory influence that is going on. The government is not supposed to be in every part of our lives, and that is what is causing the problem.^[3]

On July 28, 2015, Carson wrote an op-ed in The Washington Times contending the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is “the ultimate example of regulatory overreach, a nanny state mechanism asserting its control over everyday Americans that they did not want, did not ask for and do not need.” Carson suggested the CFPB has wasted money building an unnecessarily expensive headquarters and creating solutions to problems that do not exist, ultimately hurting consumer choice.^[4]

In an op-ed which appeared in The Washington Times on April 8, 2014, Carson wrote, "Currently, there are two major visions for America. Liberals envision an overarching central government that controls all the resources and ensures ‘equitable’ redistribution in a way that prevents anyone from suffering hardship, regardless of their lifestyle and life choices. The conservative vision emphasizes personal responsibility and a governmental role confined by the U.S. Constitution. This is the vision that was embraced by our Founders. ...By encircling businesses, educational institutions and health care enterprises with massive regulatory shackles, the government will eventually be able to shut down virtually any entity that refuses to cooperate with its mandates."^[5]

When writing about capitalism in 2014, Carson said, "As in any situation that involves human beings, there will be some abuses, but generally speaking, this kind of system works by incentivizing individuals to do the things necessary to enhance their value in the marketplace."^[6]

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term Ben + Carson + Government + Regulations