The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update

Issues in the News

1. CONGRESS

The House of Representatives hears testimony on fuel efficiency regulations for new cars.

CEI Experts Available to Comment: General Counsel Sam Kazman on the deadly impact of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations:

“A 2001 study by the National Academy of Sciences made it clear that CAFE kills. Increasing the mileage requirements will make that regulation even deadlier. No matter what new technologies are developed, there will always be a trade-off between fuel economy and safety.”

2. HEALTH

The FDA approves a new drug for treating breast cancer.

CEI Experts Available to Comment: General Counsel Sam Kazman on what oncologists think of the federal drug approval process:

“Almost two-thirds (61%) of the cancer specialists polled believe the FDA is too slow in approving new medical drugs and devices, and almost eight out of ten (77%) responded that the FDA’s approval process has hurt their ability to treat their patients with the best possible care at least once in their medical careers.”

3. INTERNET

The government of China announces new measures to “purify” the Internet by regulating blogs and webcasts.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on the need for U.S. tech companies to stay engaged in China: 

“Leaving China disconnected, as some suggest, would hinder developing internet infrastructure and would deny Chinese citizens access to the many useful services these companies provide. Just 110 million people out of China’s 1.4 billion now have net access; there’s still a monumental “digital divide.” Most Chinese citizens do not experience a limited or censored Internet, but no Internet at all.”