Climategate in Copenhagen, Antitrust for Health Care and Swine Flu Takes a Dive
The “Climategate” science scandal looms over global warming negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) lobby to end the long-standing federal antitrust exemption for health insurance companies.
The Centers for Disease Control reports a decline in reported cases of H1N1, or swine flu.
Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.
1. ENVIRONMENT
The “Climategate” science scandal looms over global warming negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: General Counsel Sam Kazman on CEI’s role in the global climate debate:
“The science behind global warming alarmism is falling apart from within, and the Climategate documents demonstrate why. There’s been no statistically significant warming over the last 10-15 years, despite increasing levels of supposedly dangerous CO2. CEI is proud to have helped delay the energy rationing sought by the alarmists, and we plan to continue doing so in several ways, including our announced intention to challenge EPA’s Endangerment finding in court.”
2. CONGRESS
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) lobby to end the long-standing federal antitrust exemption for health insurance companies.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Gregory Conko on why ending the exemption would actually hurt competition:
“As Congress moves forward with its health care reform efforts, a last-minute proposal to revoke the 64-year-old exemption from federal antitrust laws for health insurers has flown under the media radar. Proponents of the repeal proposal tout it as a broadly popular effort to slow the consolidation of the health insurance industry and promote more vigorous price competition. But the change would do nothing to prevent insurance firm mergers, which are already subject to federal oversight. However, federalizing antitrust enforcement over the insurance industry would unnecessarily duplicate existing state insurance regulations and jeopardize practices that help small insurers compete.”
3. HEALTH
The Centers for Disease Control reports a decline in reported cases of H1N1, or swine flu.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Fellow Michael Fumento on what swine flu isn’t doing this week:
“New infections are way down this week to only about 480 reported by CDC-monitored labs, compared to 1,370 just the week before and 11,470 at the height of the epidemic. So that’s a drop of 65% in one week and a plummet of 96% from the height. Deaths are the same as last week at what appear to be about 70, while hospitalizations appear to have been cut by about half. Remember that according to CDC estimates, about 257 Americans die of seasonal flu per day during flu season – which is what we’re in.”
Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.