Occupational Licensing

My current feeling is that I'm against all forced government licensing of occupations. Principle: Government's job is to protect our freedom to make choices, not to make them for us.

Brad Daw, my legislative district representative, seems to feel that occupational licensing is generally inappropriate, but supports some occupational licensing that serves to improve free-market forces. For example, he supported, "creating [a] Anesthesiologist Assistant license because it created a broader free market in the area of Anesthesiology. He also feels, "I agree with a more fully free market approach but will take something that moves the ball forward rather than stand firm and get nothing done." I understand the reasoning, but believe this approach tries to mitigate a problem created by violating the principles of good government by violating them again. A better approach would be to work to narrow the scope of an Anesthesiologist License to allow for non-licensed individuals to do more. Or in other words, stop trying to micro-manage all the possible ways that someone can be negligent.

Here's an email thread between Brad Daw (Utah House representative for Orem district 60) and myself on the subject:

My initial email to him:

when: 2/15/11

I noticed from your report that there were a number of bills passed related to

occupational licensing. I'm very much against forced licensing, believing that

government's responsibility is to protect our freedom to make choices, not to

make them for us. How do you feel about this issue?

-Bryan

His response:

Boy I could go on all day about licensing. Here's a taste:

    • Six years ago I voted to not license crane operators as it struck me as more of a scam by unions to jack up wages.
    • Five years ago I ran a bill to open up unlicenced alternative medical treatment and got my rear end shot off by the medical establishment.
    • Three years ago I ran and passed a bill to take away a monopoly on signing death certificates from licensed funeral directors.
    • Last year I led the fight to defeat a bill trying to create a license for phlebotomists.
    • I can see licensure as one alternative is some cases, but I generally see it as a way to protect turf and create artificial monopolies.

Ok?

Brad

My response:

Good to hear. Have you ever voted in support of licensing or increased

licensing and why? I'd like to understand the edge cases.

-Bryan

His response:

Well let's see. I did support raising the fee on driver licenses but that's not really a professional license. I was ok with creating Anesthesiologist Assistant license because it created a broader free market in the area of Anesthesiology. I supported an athletic trainer license because it reduced the monopoly effect from physical therapists. So I may not like licensure but if I can use the current framework to promote a more free market environment I will do so.

Brad