CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News
1. TRADE
Prominent Democrats come out in favor of pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Peru.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Scholar Fran Smith on the benefits of closer trade ties:
“Finally, some Democrats have come out strongly in favor of the pending Latin American trade agreements. Though don’t give them too much credit for courage – they’re all ‘former’ Members of Congress and the Senate as well as ‘former’ Cabinet members and other high officials. In their open letter to Congress, which appeared in the Latin Business Chronicle yesterday, the Democrats pointed to some economic benefits of the pending free trade agreements with Peru, Panama, and Colombia, but stressed the geopolitical benefits of closer ties with allies in Latin America”
2. ENVIRONMENT
Investor’s Business Daily reveals that controversial NASA scientist James Hansen has received as much as $720,000 in funding from George Soros’ charities to promote alarmist global warming theories.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Global Warming Policy Myron Ebell on the extravagant funding of alarmist environmental groups:
“Grist, the online environmental news and opinion outlet, this year quoted an unpublished foundation study that estimated that the alarmist groups have been spending $100-150 million a year to promote their cause. That’s not counting all the free media coverage and promotion or the outlandish scaremongering of scientists like James Hansen of NASA.”
3. LEGAL
The Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of an Indiana law requiring voters to present photo identification at polling places.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Special Projects Fellow Hans Bader on the parties contesting the law:
“The Supreme Court has decided to hear an appeal of a ruling upholding Indiana’s voter ID laws in a case recently decided by the federal appeals court in Chicago. The NAACP and state Democratic Party leaders claim many voters don’t have ID and are disenfranchised by the new laws. But they haven’t been able to point to proof that voters actually lack photo ID.”
Blog feature: For more news and analysis, updated throughout the day, visit CEI’s blog, Open Market.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
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