CEI Today: Obamacare in court, putting regulators on a budget, and perverse sugar subsidies

OBAMACARE RULING TODAY – SAM KAZMAN

IRS Attempts to Impose Employer Mandate in States Outside Obamacare Exchanges

Today, a federal judge will rule on a lawsuit that challenges how the IRS will enforce the Affordable Care Act. Specifically, the ruling will be on a preliminary injunction in Halbig v. Sebelius, along with a motion to dismiss by the government.

Plaintiffs are suing over an IRS regulation imposed under the auspices of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that will subject them to a series of penalties and force them to cut back employees’ hours, even though they are located in states that have refused to set up their own insurance exchanges. CEI attorneys are assisting in coordinating the lawsuit.

REG REFORM – WAYNE CREWS

Forbes: Regulatory Budget, Part 1: Ending The Abuse Of Executive And Legislative Power

The rise of the administrative state has severed agency choices from consequences. Like taxes, their thousands of annual rulemakings impact aggregate output, prices and employment. So as much as we fight over the fiscal budget, we need some kind of regulatory budget too.

SUGAR SUBSIDIES – FRAN SMITH

Openmarket.org: Sugar Policy Drives Out Candy Companies

Increasingly U.S. candy makers are moving their production to other countries because federal price supports keep domestic sugar prices way above the world market price.