1. TECHNOLOGY

Chip makers Intel and AMD reach
a deal over antitrust and patent disputes.

CEI Expert Available
to Comment: Associate
Director of Technology Studies Ryan
Radia on the antitrust case still pending against
Intel in New York:

“...an examination of the computer processor industry's
recent evolution reveals an intensely competitive and vibrant market. For over
a decade, Intel and AMD have competed fiercely, yielding immense benefits to
consumers. Processors are rapidly growing faster, cheaper and more energy
efficient every year. This trend shows no signs of letting up. Between 2001 and
2006, the speed of the leading Intel processor available for under $250
increased by a whopping 553%, or 41% per year, according to data from PassMark
Software.”

2. HEALTH

Democrat-sponsored health care legislation continues to
include a “mandatory
purchase” requirement for health insurance.

CEI Expert Available
to Comment: Senior Fellow Gregory Conko on how the
purchase mandate could make the system worse:

“The proposals would make it more
difficult to get some of the options that are available now — particularly the
low-cost insurance plans that cover only catastrophic health events and have
substantial cost-sharing features. And, depending on which bill would
eventually be enacted into law, Congress, state insurance commissioners, and/or
a federal Health Choices Commissioner would get to dictate what benefits have
to be covered in every policy, and would be empowered to determine whether any
given plan even qualifies as health insurance. The end result will be
considerably higher costs for almost every person living in the country.”

3. LABOR

Union presidents Andy Stern and Sal Rosselli continue
their feud over a disputed election in California.

CEI Expert Available
to Comment: Editorial Director Ivan
Osorio on the latest
developments in the fight:

“Early this year, SEIU, under the
leadership of Andy Stern, forced a merger between the Oakland health care local, United Healthcare
Workers-West (UHW), and a Los Angeles-area local where a major corruption
scandal broke last year — leading that local’s chief, Stern ally
Tyrone Freeman, to resign. In response to the Stern-led SEIU bullying, UHW
president Sal Rosselli broke with SEIU and formed a new union, the National
Union of United Healthcare Workers (NUHW). Since its founding, NUHW has tried
to attract workers disgruntled with SEIU, which has fought back, hard. Last
Friday, November 6, NUHW filed a complaint with the California Public
Employment Relations Board, alleging voter intimidation and vote
tampering by SEIU representatives in a June decertification election.”

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