The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News
1. BUSINESS
Representatives of corporate America convene in New York to talk about “social responsibility.”
CEI Expert Available to Comment: CEI Policy Analyst Isaac Post on the “Lifestyles of the Ethical Consumer”:
“Recently, the celebrity gossip blog, DMZ, took a swipe at celebrities ‘who claim they’re green, but guzzle gas.’ George Clooney, among others, was mocked for his ‘I drive an electric car so I’m environmentally conscious—except when I’m flying to Tokyo in my private jet’ hypocrisy. But besides delivering a smacking to self-righteous celebrities, such an expose illustrates the sizable gap that exists between the attitude and behavior of ‘ethical’ consumers.”
2. ENERGY
Utility regulators warn that Texas and New England are likely to face power grid problems and possible blackouts in the next few years.
CEI Experts Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on how we can keep the lights from going out:
“Misguided environmental regulations, green obstructionism and the NIMBY (Not-in-my-backyard) syndrome have combined to delay the construction of desperately needed new power plants and transmission lines. The result is an infrastructure that will soon be unable to meet the demands of the American economy. Policy makers must act now to re-empower America.”
3. REGULATION
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees hold confirmation hearings on Susan Dudley’s nomination to become the new head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on the costs of federal regulation:
“In the Fiscal Year 2006 federal budget, President Bush proposed $2.77 trillion in discretionary, entitlement, and interest spending. Although those costs fully express the on-budget scope of the federal government, there is considerably more to the government’s reach than the sum of the taxes sent to Washington. Federal environmental, safety and health, and economic regulations cost hundreds of billions of dollars every year—on top of official federal outlays.”