Cybersecurity Bill Passed, Highway Bill, Hill Event on Chemical Policy

HIGHWAY BILL – MARC SCRIBNER

Openmarket.org: The Awful Truth about the Highway Bills

The Senate passed the obnoxiously titled Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) bill on March 14 in a 74-22 vote. While ostensibly passed in a bipartisan fashion, it soon became clear most of the Senate Republicans who voted for MAP-21’s passage had no clue what was in the bill and how it would be paid for.

The House and Senate could be meeting in conference as early as May 7. While many observers have been wondering about squaring the Keystone XL pipeline with President Obama’s solar-powered vision, the real head-scratching ought to be focused on trying to figure out why anybody — progressive, conservative, libertarian, communist — would support whatever hellish Frankenstein bill emerges from conference.

The only sensible path forward is for the House and Senate to give up on both MAP-21 and H.R. 7 and start over with a blank slate. Going down the current path will just make our existing problems worse.

CYBERSECURITY BILL – WAYNE CREWS

Forbes.com: How a Cybersecurity Protection Bill Might Differ from CISPA

The House of Representatives [voted] on “CISPA,” the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act this week. Whatever advocates’ frustrations, it’s not clear what government’s capabilities really are with respect to private critical infrastructure security and cybersecurity, regardless of resources.

Given that, ensuring that nothing blocks markets from reacting as fluidly as possible, rather than federally over-steering cybersecurity, should be the guiding principle. There’s a chance to adopt that stance next, because the Senate won’t likely pass CISPA and a White House veto is promised anyhow; but it would require a somewhat different mindset.

Those who feel we must legislate cybersecurity remain far apart. But it’s not really surprising; agreement even on fundamentals with respect to where to allocate cybersecurity resources and know-how doesn’t exist. Nor are we sure of the relative likelihood of physical vs. cyber-attacks, for example; or of cyber-terror or cybercrime aimed at the power grid, food processing facilities, chemical plants, banks or other institutions.

See also:

CEI Urges Members to Vote No on CISPA

Free Market Coalition Letter on CISPA

CEI Podcast for April 26, 2012: The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)

HILL EVENT

The Competitive Enterprise Institute invites you to a panel discussion on Chemical Policy and Regulation: The Costs of Bad Science and Over-Caution Efforts are underway on Capitol Hill, at federal agencies, and within state governments to reform a number of chemical laws and regulations—including the Toxic Substances Control Act and federal cosmetics regulation—to make the laws more precautionary in nature. These efforts are bolstered by government programs that classify chemicals as “carcinogenic.” But will these programs and policies improve public health and well-being or might they prove counterproductive? Come find out as our panelists address these important issues.

Date: Monday, April 30, 2012

Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Location: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building

Please RSVP to Angela at [email protected] or (202) 331-2269