CEI Today: 3 things about the airline merger lawsuit, the unjust renewable fuel mandate, and regulations of the week

AIRLINE MERGER – MARC SCRIBNER

Openmarket.org: 3 Things You May Not Know about the US Airways-American Airlines Merger Lawsuit

On Tuesday, August 13, the Department of Justice, six states, and the District of Columbia filed suit to block the planned $11 billion merger of US Airways and American Airlines.

The inclusion of the state attorneys general is interesting, especially when you consider their party affiliations (four Republicans, two Democrats) and political ambitions. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is running for governor next year while Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia is locked in a bitter gubernatorial race with former Democratic National Committee head Terry McAuliffe. Cuccinelli is supported by Tea Party activists and many regard him as a friend of free markets and limited government.

Once again, we see that politicians are far more comfortable with free market rhetoric than actually promoting free markets.

RENEWABLE FUEL MANDATE – MYRON EBELL

One News Now: New letter adding fuel to ethanol debate

Last week, CEI and ten other free-market organizations wrote Representatives Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry Waxman (D-CA), urging them to abolish the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which is being thoroughly reviewed by both congressmen.

Ebell, Myron (Ctr. for Energy and Environment)Myron Ebell, director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s (CEI) Center for Energy and Environment, tells OneNewsNow ethanol has a negative impact on food and fuel prices, among other things.

“The bad really far outweighs the good,” he asserts. “It’s a very complicated system that is enriching people at the expense of the American public by requiring refiners to blend ethanol into their gasoline. And as our letter points out, this is really a form of what used to be called involuntary servitude.”