Full Stop on New Regulations, Infrastructure Confusion and the Problem with ‘Priming the Pump ‘
President Obama orders a halt to implementation of all pending federal regulations.
President Obama calls for increased spending on roads, bridges and electrical grids.
President Obama and advisors craft a stimulus package to “prime the pump” of economic growth.
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1. BUSINESS
President Obama orders a halt to implementation of all pending federal regulations.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews recalls making the same recommendation last November:
“Upon raising his hand from the Bible after taking the Oath of Office, President Obama should declare a one year freeze on all new government regulations; he’d naturally exempt those he regards as addressing immediate threats to public health and safety.
The point is, during that freeze, the President should clarify an intention to review all regulations on the books, and streamline and control the $1 trillion regulatory state. His transition handlers have announced a desire to employ Executive Orders; he could use that power to liberalize, not add to burdens to a limping economy.”
2. ENERGY
President Obama calls for increased spending on roads, bridges and electrical grids.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on what’s missing from Obama’s plan:
“Obama already shows that he does not understand infrastructure. The grids – roads and electric grids and so on – only work if the flows – cars and energy – are allowed to flow freely. And flows only work if the grids are sufficient to allow them to flow. This is why liberating or constructing grids is of no help if you restrict the flows, and vice versa. An electric grid designed to meet the demands of the next 30 years will be of no help if we restrict ourselves to the false promise of solar and wind power, which cannot possibly provide more than a tiny fraction of our energy at current – or foreseeable – technology. Similarly, what good is a road network if we restrict our cars to a range of 40 miles? A proper approach to infrastructure liberates both.”
3. ECONOMY
President Obama and advisors craft a stimulus package to “prime the pump” of economic growth.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: President Fred L. Smith, Jr. on problem with the pump metaphor:
“…our challenge is to ensure that we restore confidence that the forces that today start the financial waters flowing are not ephemeral, that we’ve restored the forces of economic freedom and responsibility have been restored. A set of arbitrary, inconsistent and short-term priming activities is unlikely to restore our system.”
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