The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News
1. SCIENCE
The Environmental Protection Agency proposes tightening air quality standards.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Analyst Steven Milloy on the EPA’s polluted science:
“Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA must consider health risks but not costs in determining the so-called ‘national ambient air quality standards.’ Despite the law’s express prohibition on the consideration of costs, Sen. George Voinovich, D-Ohio, is arguing that hundreds of counties would violate the EPA’s new standards, according to an article in the Clean Air Report (July 27).”
2. AGRICULTURE
Congress considers extending the 2002 “Farm Bill” that created the current system of subsidies for farmers in the United States.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Scholar R.J. Smith on the goings on at this week’s farm bill hearings:
“Two hours and 12 minutes of subsidy-sucking. Those people wanted money for everything. Old programs and new programs and more money for all of them, and full federal funding for every possible ‘conservation’ program.”
3. ENVIRONMENT
USA Today reports increased interest in “green” building technology.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Study author Todd Myers on why mandating green building standards is a mistake:
“What happens when you take a good idea for some and make it mandatory for all? Jurisdictions across the United States are finding out as they enact laws and executive orders requiring that all new government buildings be built to meet “green building” standards designed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Governments at all levels are promoting the standards, known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) as a one-size-fits-all strategy to make government buildings more environmentally friendly. Ironically, the standards were not designed to be used this way. LEED mandates are likely to raise the costs of housing for consumers as well as increase tax burdens of citizens in cities and towns that rigidly apply LEED to public projects.”
Blog feature: For more news and analysis, updated throughout the day, visit CEI Open Market.
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].