Farm Subsidies, Chemicals in Plastic and High Gas Prices
The White House announces plans to veto the recently-passed $300 billion farm bill.
Debate continues over the safety of plastic additive bisphenol A, or BPA.
Energy companies embark on a PR campaign to address consumer worries about high oil prices.
1. FOOD
The White House announces plans to veto the recently-passed $300 billion farm bill.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Analyst Fran Smith on why the farm bill deserves the veto:
“The Competitive Enterprise Institute applauds Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer’s announcement yesterday that President Bush will veto the Farm Bill that the House-Senate conference negotiated and announced on May 8, 2008. The legislation, instead of reforming costly and wasteful farm programs, expands some of the worst farm support programs and does little or nothing to curtail the huge payments and subsidies that even rich farmers receive.”
2. HEALTH
Debate continues over the safety of plastic additive bisphenol A, or BPA.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Analyst Steven Milloy examines the controversy:
“Let’s sit back and take stock of what has happened: Activists manipulated long-standing scientific standards to enable a government agency ally to cast dubious but impossible-to-disprove aspersions about BPA. Sympathetic and/or too-dumb-to-know-better mainstream media ran with the story, providing cover to activist-friendly politicians who introduced legislation to ban BPA and personal injury lawyers who no doubt would be happy to settle their meritless billion-dollar suit for a quick few million.”
3. ENERGY
Energy companies embark on a PR campaign to address consumer worries about high oil prices.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis on the policies that could make things worse:
“An obvious question that leaps to mind: How much higher can fuel prices go without ‘decimating’ the trucking and airline industries – or without triggering a recession? This question is all the more pertinent given the enthusiasm on Capitol Hill for mandatory global warming policies. For example, John Dingell, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, recently advocated (a) a $50 tax on the carbon content of fuels, (b) a $.50 hike in federal motor fuel taxes, and (c) a cap-and-trade program adequate to reduce U.S. emissions 60 to 80 percent by 2050.”
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