Vaclav Klaus, Fingerprint Registration and Free Trade

The Competitive Enterprise Institute publishes a new book by Czech president Václav Klaus on the future of environmental policy.

The Senate Banking Committee approves a new housing bill with an alarming provision.

Canada seeks a free trade agreement with Colombia, as the Bush administration’s own deal with the Latin American nation languishes.

1. ENVIRONMENT

The Competitive Enterprise Institute publishes a new book by Czech president Václav Klaus on the future of environmental policy.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: President Fred L. Smith, Jr. on the themes of Klaus’ book:

“Today, the global warming debate raging in both the United States and EuropeAtlantic, the debate has metastasized into cultural warfare against economic liberty. For that reason, pro-freedom voices are needed to reframe the debate to show how a free people can better address the challenges facing Western civilization. To that end, we are proud to publish Blue Planet in Green Shackles.” has become extremely contentious. On both sides of the

 

2. PRIVACY

The Senate Banking Committee approves a new housing bill with an alarming provision.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Center for Entrepreneurship Director John Berlau on what’s in the fine print:

“…[last week], a measure creating a federal fingerprint registry totally unrelated to national security passed a U.S. Senate committee almost without notice. The legislation would require thousands of individuals working even tangentially in the mortgage and real estate industries — and not suspected of anything — to send their prints to the feds. The database and fingerprint mandates were tucked into housing and foreclosure assistance bills that on Tuesday passed the Senate Banking Committee by a vote of 19-2.”

 

3. TRADE

Canada seeks a free trade agreement with Colombia, as the Bush administration’s own deal with the Latin American nation languishes.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Fellow Fran Smith on what international observers are saying about U.S. trade policy:

“In a strong defense of international trade and the pending U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, President George W. Bush in a Fox Business News interview [last week] worried that many world leaders think that the U.S. is turning ‘inward.’ In his interview, he also strongly criticized the Senate and the House support for the new Farm Bill, which survived a Presidential veto this week.”

 

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