McCaskill introduces plain language bill | Matthew Flores, The Maneater

The good news in this article is that there's bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate for the proposed Plain Writing Act for Regulations. The bill would require the language in all federal regulations to be clear and concise, appropriate to the subject or audience.

Said Sen. Claire McCaskill:

Any time we make it easier for folks to access and understand government information that’s a good thing. Accountability in government shouldn’t require folks to have to navigate the weeds of bureaucracy in order to get the most basic information.

This bill is a followup to the adopted Plain Writing Act of 2010. That legislation requires federal agencies to write their documents for the public in a plain, straightforward style of English.

McCaskill, again [emphasis added]:

This bill is a simple way to lose the jargon and shine more sunlight on our democracy, as well as better hold government officials accountable.

Rep. Bruce Braley has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. He said [emphasis added]:

Whether you like or loathe government regulations, I think everyone can agree that when one exists it should be written as clearly as possible. Sadly, gobbledygook dominates the regulations issued by government agencies, making it almost impossible for small businesses to understand the rules of the road.

For more information, check out Garbl's Plain English Writing Guide.