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Issues in the News

1. SAFETY

A recent report on chemical plant security finds current measures coming up short.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Risk & Environmental Policy Angela Logomasini on terrorist attacks and the public’s “right to know” about security risks at chemical plants:

“Environmental and ‘citizen’ activists claim this information [about chemical plant vulnerabilities] is valuable because they say it informs the public about risks in their communities.  In reality, it does nothing of the sort.  Risk Management Plans (RPMs) include fictitious scenarios of the most highly unlikely catastrophic chemical releases.  Accidents may happen in the real world, but these scenarios go well beyond the realm of reality.  They assume every mitigation measure at a plant would fail and that nothing would be done to control a release.  Nor do the plans provide the type of information that could save lives should an accidental release occur:  RMPs don’t educate the public on how to respond in the event of an emergency.”

2. BUSINESS

Bill Ford steps down as CEO of Ford Motor Company, amid disappointing financial performance.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Analyst Steven Milloy on why CEOs like Bill Ford are bad for business:

“Ford always appeared more concerned about being green than being profitable. In May 2000, he declared that SUVs – his company’s most profitable product – harmed the environment. He lectured a Greenpeace audience that something needed to be done about global warming. Ford focused on turning the company’s massive Rouge plant into an “icon of lean, green manufacturing” and issued reports about vehicle exhaust contributing to global warming..”

3. ECONOMICS

Inc. magazine celebrates the 25th anniversary of its annual list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Economic Policy Fellow John Berlau launches the Center for Entrepreneurship to study how new businesses grow and prosper:

“The Center for Entrepreneurship was formed to specifically look at the areas of public policy entrepreneurs face when starting or building their businesses. If unnecessary rules prevent businessmen and women from launching their innovations, no other regulations matter. The Center starts out with one question: If entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates or Sam Walton were starting out today, what would be the barriers to them raising capital to get their ideas off the ground and keep their businesses growing?”

Blog feature: For more news and analysis, updated throughout the day, visit CEI Open Market.

Watch the latest video episode from the Bureaucrash Activist Network: Vodcrash #3.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To contact a CEI expert for comment or interviews, please call the CEI communications department at 202-331-2273 or email to [email protected].