This is definitely a plus overall, even if there are one or two potential flaws. What's concerning for Startup Visa proponents is that the Visa risks being overshadowed by these changes or seen as a bridge too far by wary politicians. I think if you're a Startup Visa supporter in or outside the US, then you can agree that the Visa is far more significant for the US tech startup industry than these current suggestions.
Yay, loosening regulations on wall street. Lets let startups without enough financial knowledge and market power to create a real IPO jump into being publicly traded.
There does not exist a homogenous entity called "regulation" where more of it is good and less of it is bad. There are plenty of regulations that accomplish no useful purpose, and even more whose benefits are less than the costs they impose upon commerce.
I would hazard to guess that making it harder for small businesses to go public was one of those unintended consequences of regulation that do more harm than good. Sarbox, or at least a portion of it, ought to be repealed.