Stimulus Signing, Washington the Entrepreneur and California Emissions
President Obama prepares to sign the $787 billion federal stimulus package into law.
Americans across the country celebrate the birthday of George Washington.
The Environmental Protection Agency considers allowing California to set its own limits on carbon dioxide emissions.
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1. POLITICS
President Obama prepares to sign the $787 billion federal stimulus package into law.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Scholar Fran Smith on who will be paying for the stimulus:
“…it’s likely that nobody…read the stimulus package in its entirety. Then how [did] they know what to vote on? Betcha’ the special interests made sure they took their separate wish lists and legislative language to their favorite politicians…Since the pork is being dished out widely and indiscriminately, who needs to read the bill? Everybody should be happy – after all, we’re promised that millions of jobs will be created as the money flows through the government agencies. But who’s going to be paying for all this largess? It’s us, the taxpayers of today, and tomorrow, and the next.”
2. BUSINESS
Americans across the country celebrate the birthday of George Washington.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Center for Investors and Entrepreneurs Director John Berlau marks the birthday of an entrepreneur:
“…pioneering scholars are documenting that Washington’s life’s work was just as enthralling as that of any of the Founding Fathers. His pursuits can be said to be just as creative as those of Franklin and Jefferson, but in a different way. Washington’s creativity of the type one associates with modern entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates and even Donald Trump. Whereas Franklin built gadgets at his homestead, and Jefferson built fancy buildings, the notable thing Washington built were a series of interconnected businesses.”
3. ENVIRONMENT
The Environmental Protection Agency considers allowing California to set its own limits on carbon dioxide emissions.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis on how the California plan would create a confusing patchwork of rules:
“…if California Air Resources Board rules restrict the supply and increase the cost of gas-guzzlers ‘delivered for sale’ in California, for example, Californians would still be free to buy lower-priced gas guzzlers in Nevada and bring them back home. Emissions in California might go down somewhat, but auto sales, jobs, and tax revenues might go down even faster.”
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