The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
1. HEALTH
The West Nile virus makes a comeback in the Midwest.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Risk & Environmental Policy Angela Logomasini on the debate over deploying anti-mosquito pesticides around public schools to combat West Nile:
“For decades, environmentalists have been trying to scare the public about pesticides, when in fact pesticides pose little risk when used properly and are a critical part of controlling disease outbreaks and pest-related risks at schools.”
2. BUSINESS
Virginia launches a statewide survey of manufacturers to estimate regulatory costs to businesses.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews calculates the national regulatory burden in the new report 10,000 Commandments:
“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.”
3. INTERNET
Remarks by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens raise questions about his understanding of the technology his committee is in the midst of regulating.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Policy Analyst Brooke Oberwetter on Sen. Steven’s explanation of the Internet’s inner workings:
“Even though he voted against the net neutrality bill that failed to make it out of committee last week, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) unwittingly did far more for the cause of beating back Internet regulation by demonstrating to the American public just how unqualified members of Congress are to make determinations about how technology works or should work.”
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