Justice Souter, Global Warming Negotiations and Florida Insurance Reform
Justice David Souter announces his retirement from the Supreme Court.
Leading up to global warming negotiations in Copenhagen, a new study calls for the elimination of all fossil fuel use.
The Florida legislature approves a sweeping insurance reform plan.
For more news, listen to the LibertyWeek podcast here.
1. LEGAL
Justice David Souter announces his retirement from the Supreme Court.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Special Projects Counsel Hans Bader on what’s riding on Souter’s replacement:
“…on economics, where Souter was more moderate, [the choice of a successor] will matter a lot: Souter was willing to occasionally overturn excessive punitive damage awards, and overturn state regulations that were preempted by federal law – like in Watters v. Wachovia (2007), where I filed a brief on behalf of economists and law professors. Some of his potential replacements, like Judge Sonia Sotomayor and especially Deval Patrick, will be less likely to do that.”
2. ENVIRONMENT
Leading up to global warming negotiations in Copenhagen, a new study calls for the elimination of all fossil fuel use.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Energy Policy Analyst William Yeatman on his hopes for future negotiations:
“There are only seven months until the global community plans to adopt a successor climate treaty to the failed Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen, but negotiators are far apart on the most important issues-binding emissions cuts and paying for a global green energy revolution…It is my strongest hope that this deadlock persists, so that we all may be spared the burden of an ill-conceived, economically ruinous climate change mitigation treaty.”
3. INSURANCE
The Florida legislature approves a sweeping insurance reform plan.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Florida Project Director Christian Cámara on why the bill is a step in the right direction:
“The passage of this bill is an important first step in immunizing the state of Florida against bankruptcy due to Citizens and CAT Fund insolvency after a hurricane. The original House version of the bill – opposed by Gov. Charlie Crist and the Senate – proactively and responsibly went further in shoring-up Citizens’ finances, reducing the likelihood of ‘hurricane taxes,’ and safeguarding Floridians’ lives and property by funding the state’s successful My Safe Florida Home mitigation program. Regardless, the legislature’s final, albeit weaker product is an overall first step in the right direction to reverse years of irresponsible political intervention in Florida’s property insurance market. Gov. Crist would do well in quickly signing this bill into law.”
Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.