The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update

1. CONSUMER

The Washington Post reports on CEI’s campaign to protest substandard appliances resulting from energy efficiency mandates.

2. ENVIRONMENT

Environmentalists celebrate the 100th birthday of Silent Spring author Rachel Carson.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Journalism Fellow Jeremy Lott on the dark side of Carson’s legacy:

“Today is the centenary of Rachel Carson’s birth, which has been noted by many environmentalists who cherish her legacy. However, what has been little noted amid the celebrations and commemorations is the dark aspect of that legacy: that Ms. Carson’s views led to the banning of pesticides at a cost of many thousands of lives worldwide.”

3. INSURANCE

Senators John Sununu (R-NH) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) introduce legislation to make insurance more affordable by streamlining regulatory hurdles.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Eli Lehrer on the drawbacks of the current system of insurance regulation:“The current system of state-by-state, patchwork regulation increases average insurance rates and reduces economic efficacy. Eventually, insurance will work best if the United States sweeps away nearly all rate regulation and lets the market set the insurance rates for people’s homes and cars.”