DC Journal
“FTC Is Expanding Big-Is-Bad Philosophy to Food”
Trey Price from the American Consumer Institute highlights the FTC’s growing interest in regulating sugar and grocery store mergers.
News Release
Biden Labor Department offers new rule on “prevailing wages” that is less accurate
The Biden Labor Department today announced the issuance of the final rule making changes to Davis-Bacon Act labor regulations, ostensibly aimed at helping construction…
New York Times
Climate Is Now a Culture War Issue
Comment
CEI Comments on the EPA’s CO2 Powerplant Emission Performance Standards
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards and guidelines for new and existing…
Blog
Amazon doesn’t have a monopoly in everything
As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released their draft merger guidelines, Amazon has found itself in the…
Blog
GOOD Act only first step in forcing federal agencies to come clean on guidance documents
Alongside the familiar profusion of notice-and-comment regulations, federal agency guidance can include memoranda, notices, bulletins, directives, news releases, letters; even blog posts and…
Blog
New premerger filing rules raise costs for no benefit
In late June, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) antitrust division proposed a new set of premerger notification rules.
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: steroids and cyber scholarships
Unemployment remained at 3.5 percent, and Donald Trump got indicted again. Meanwhile, agencies issued new regulations ranging from cooking products to squid harvests. On to…
Washington Examiner
Labor Department to issue pro-union final rule on construction worker pay: Report
Washington Examiner cites CEI’s Sean Higgins on union regulations: Sean Higgins, a research fellow at the libertarian Competitive Enterprise Institute, told the Washington Examiner that the key…
Truth on the Market
“The FTC’s Gambit Against Amazon: Navigating a Multiverse of Blowback and Consumer Harm”
Lazar Radic and Geoffrey Manne from the International Center for Law & Economics argue that the FTC’s anticipated lawsuit against Amazon is unlikely to be…
Townhall
“Antitrust Enforcement Takes a Regressive Turn”
Rachel Chiu from the Committee for Justice discusses how the draft merger guidelines depart from accepted antitrust principles.
News Release
Economy adds 187,000 jobs in July 2023: CEI analysis
The U.S. economy added 187,000 jobs in July, according to the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not spectacular but not bad, say CEI…
News Release
Myron Ebell to retire from CEI in 2024, Daren Bakst promoted to be Director of the Center for Energy and Environment
Myron Ebell, longtime Director of CEI’s Center for Energy and Environment and a key leader on energy and environmental issues, has stepped down from that…
National Review
The FTC’s Flawed Antimerger Ideology
The Biden administration has unveiled a draft version of new merger guidelines, courtesy of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of…
Real Clear Markets
The Global Rejection of CBDC
The Biden Administration and the Federal Reserve are taking steps toward the potential roll-out of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). In attempting to do…
Blog
New merger guidelines have a concentration problem
The new draft merger guidelines from the FTC and the Justice Department have sparked a lot of commentary. Over at National Review’s Capital Matters…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Government rules behind a paywall with Patrick McLaughlin
In this week’s episode we talk about banning incandescent light bulbs, mission creep at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, new nuclear capacity…
National Review
“The Problems at the FTC Go Beyond Losing Merger Battles”
Mark Jamison from the American Enterprise Institute provides insight on numerous problems at Khan’s FTC.
Real Clear Markets
“The Biden Administration’s Twisted, Anti-Growth, M&A Policies”
Paul Steidler from the Lexington Institute argues that the new merger guidelines are overly broad and arbitrary.
Blog
Let them eat public transportation
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released its latest attack on Automobility with proposed CA standards on combustion engine vehicles. The war on…
Forbes
Joe Biden’s Split Personality on Energy Project Permitting
On Friday, the Biden Administration proposed a new rule to amend the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. Unfortunately, the new rule risks…
Blog
What you don’t know about the Wagner Act
What stance does the National Labor Relation Act, the main federal law regarding union rights, take towards workers joining unions? A long-held article of…
Blog
The Paycheck Protection Act gives Congress a chance to defend the little guy
Freshman Missouri congressman Eric Burlison (R) has introduced legislation called the Paycheck Protection Act. The act, a project of the nonprofit American Legislative…
Townhall
“Lina Khan Keeps Dodging Congressional Oversight to Effect Her Radical Agenda”
David McGarry from Taxpayers Protection Alliance talks about Chair Lina Khan’s departure from institutional and ethical norms.
Law360
“Merger Guidelines’ Broad Tack Ignores Recent Precedent”
Attorneys from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, Jay Rybnicek, Laura Onken, and Tim Swartz, discuss the new merger guidelines.
Study
The Forgotten History of the Wagner Act
Introduction President Joe Biden on April 26, 2021, announced the creation of a special Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. The purpose of the…
News Release
Report disputes role of federal government in labor union participation, reveals forgotten purpose of the National Labor Relations Act
A new Competitive Enterprise Institute report disputes claims by President Biden and others that the 1935 National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) directs the federal…
Blog
Why are America’s insurance commissioners trying to import harmful European rules?
With high prices and the threat of recession looming over America’s economy, another threat is emerging. Influential policymakers overseeing the U.S. insurance industry are on…
Federalist Society
Explainer Episode 58 – Natural Gas Bans, Appliance Efficiency Standards, and Consumer Choice
Ben Lieberman, Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute joins James W. Coleman, Professor of Law, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law to discuss…
Fox News
Biden’s new crackdown on another appliance will be worse than gas stoves
We have seen a big consumer backlash in 2023 over Biden administration bureaucrats targeting gas stoves, but that could pale in comparison to…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: dishwashers and shore leave
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates again, and GDP grew at a healthy 2.4 percent annualized rate. Meanwhile, agencies issued new regulations ranging…
Blog
Life lessons from Alfred Kahn, father of airline deregulation
“Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie.” Alfred Kahn’s opening words during an American Bar Association session were strange and confusing. Why would a man known for…
Washington Examiner
Cryptocurrency back in spotlight in legislative push from Congress
John Berlau, a senior fellow and director of finance policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told the Washington Examiner that Congress should tread lightly in granting more…
Blog
Good news about new business starts nationwide
The Economic Innovation Group has a fascinating report out this week on how we’re seeing a boom in new businesses being started – definitely a…
Blog
Are we ready for a ‘Carbon’ Futures Trading Commission?
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is testing the waters for its commodity-based carbon credit market. As an agency traditionally tasked with regulating commodities, the…
Experts warn Biden admin’s water heater crackdown will hike prices, reduce consumer choice
Fox News cites Ben Lieberman on consumer choice issues: “One of the things about these appliance standards — they’re all problematic — is…
Blog
No, Florida, you can’t sue corporate directors for ‘going woke’
Recently Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called on the Sunshine State’s pension fund manager to consider action against Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev. In a…
Citation
The FTC is burdening small business activity
Ryan Young on the Bob Harden Show, July 28th 2023.
Blog
CEI Hill event shows how the FTC is burdening small businesses
Many have praised Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), for her commitment to regulate “big business.” Under her leadership, the FTC…
Discourse Magazine
Red and Blue States Take Sides in Federal ESG Fight
The environmental, social and governance (ESG) movement has become one of the most divisive issues among state legislators in 2023. ESG refers to a set…
Study
FTC’s Subscription Deception
Proposed Negative Option Rule has no opt-out from bureaucratic overreach Introduction The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a Negative* Option Rule Notice of…
Blog
Raise the Wage Act reintroduced, still wouldn’t help workers
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) has reintroduced the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 per hour. Previous…
Study
Four Principles for Real Permitting Reform
Federal legislators continue to focus on permitting reform. For example, the Senate is reportedly1 working on more ambitious reform than those recently enacted in the…
Blog
Free the Economy Episode 31: Reforming the States with Carrie Conko
In this week’s episode we talk about the Federal Trade Commission’s takeover of AI policy, shareholder lawsuits against “woke” corporations, an encouraging…
ICLE
“Five Problems with a Potential FTC Challenge to the Kroger/Albertsons Merger”
Brian Albrecht, Dirk Auer, Eric Fruits, and Geoffrey A. Manne from the International Center for Law & Economics discuss the FTC’s interest in challenging the…
Real Clear Markets
“Why Is Congress Allowing Lina Khan to Collaborate with the EU?”
Charles Sauer, president of the Market Institute, calls on Congress to prohibit the FTC from corroborating with the European Union in enforcing the European Digital…
New York Post
“Cracking Down on AI Companies Could Rob America of Economic Growth”
James Czerniawski from Americans for Prosperity cautions against the FTC’s eagerness to regulate AI companies.
News Release
Economy avoids recession, grows 2.4 percent – but falls short: CEI analysis
GDP numbers released this morning show a healthy 2.4 percent annualized growth in the second quarter. CEI Senior Economist Ryan Young thinks it could…
Wall Street Journal
Population Growth Is Not a Threat to Prosperity
Marian Tupy and David Deutsch’s op-ed “We Will Never Run Out of Resources” (July 21) recalls the work of Julian Simon. The…
Blog
Hollywood and the collateral damage of strikes
The current Hollywood strike by writers and actors has forced several others who don’t have an issue with the studios to stop working.
News Release
Fed raises interest rates, as needed: CEI analysis
The Federal Reserve decided to raise the federal funds rate a quarter of a percent, as expected, at today’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting.
Blog
Teamsters’ UPS win suggests more strikes coming
Tuesday’s announcement that the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and UPS have agreed on a contract is a likely sign that strikes and other union…
Blog
EEOC finds something to do!
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) introduced a sensible bill in Dec. 2022 providing that before issuing a regulation, the Securities and Exchange Commission must “clearly identify…
News Release
CEI supports prohibition on multi-billion-dollar government slush fund in agriculture appropriations bill
The House of Representatives is set to vote on H.R. 4368, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act…
The Washington Examiner
Carbon tariffs will hurt trade, national interests, and consumers
Carbon tariffs are a bad idea that won’t go away, and now the European Union has launched the first one, the …
Forbes
Careful: Misbegotten Government-Business “Blueprints” Can Lobotomize Artificial Intelligence
Atop numerous directives and another of Washington’s periodic “Bill of Rights” proclamations misconstruing who is protected from what by such documents,…
Blog
Carbon tariffs are all pain, no gain
Europe recently introduced a carbon tax. The proposed PROVE IT Act would lay the groundwork for one in the United States. Over in the…
Wall Street Journal
“Antitrust Regulation by Intimidation”
Gus Hurwitz and Geoffrey Manne from the International Center for Law and Economics explain that the new merger guidelines provide little clarity and much uncertainty.
Blog
CEI asks Supreme Court to overturn Chevron deference to regulators
Earlier today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute filed an amicus brief at the United States Supreme Court asking the Court to overturn Chevron. Our brief…
National Review
Keep the FTC’s Hands off Artificial Intelligence
The general panic over artificial intelligence and the Federal Trade Commission’s aim to insert itself into every corner of the U.S. economy recently dovetailed in …
News Release
New Study from CEI and Paragon Health Institute finds CDC shortcomings and recommends key reforms
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) and the Paragon Health Institute published a new paper today by CEI senior fellow and director of…
Study
Unauthorized and Unprepared: Refocusing the CDC after COVID-19
Executive Summary What This Paper Covers The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation’s preeminent public health agency, has acknowledged that it failed badly…
Fox News
Biden admin cracks down on another popular home appliance
Fox News cites Senior Fellow Ben Lieberman on proposed regulations on household appliances: “It’s just spreading to more and more appliances. It seems…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: soybean standards and pain medication limits
The FTC issued its new draft merger guidelines. Meanwhile, agencies issued new regulations ranging from milk marketing to Postal Service snitches. On to the…
Blog
Congress is set to reauthorize the FAA. Should it?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018 expires at the end of September. This week, Congress will consider H.R. 3935 (118). If…
Forbes
AI Economics Must Avoid The Ethical Mistakes Of Climate Economics
Artificial intelligence (AI) has garnered significant public attention in recent months, especially since the groundbreaking launch of the large language model, ChatGPT. Some of that…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Ugh! Capitalism! with Jeremiah Johnson
In this week’s episode we talk about Democrat and Republican myths, corporate welfare in Ohio, scams in the carbon offset market,…
Truth on the Market
“New Merger Guidelines Are as Expected. That’s Not a Compliment”
Brian Albrecht, chief economist of the International Center for Law & Economics, argues that the new draft Merger Guidelines would contribute to confusion for both…
Reason
“New Federal Merger Guidelines Hint: Maybe Just Don’t Merge Anything at All”
Elizabeth Nolan Brown from Reason discusses the new merger guidelines.
Truth on the Market
“The New Merger Guideline Commandments: Thirteen is an Unlucky Number”
Alden Abbott, former general counsel at the FTC, describes the new draft Merger Guidelines as an “anti-merger manifesto.”…
Blog
House Republicans continue to grill the FTC for its overreach
The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Thursday of last week entitled “Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission.” Lines of questioning were heated…
Forbes
Biden’s Competition Council Targets Free Enterprise, Expands Government
Joe Biden’s Competition Council, created by his executive order dubbed “Promoting Competition In the American Economy,” celebrated its second anniversary and convened its …
Comment
Procedures for Previously Exempt State and Local Government Employee Complaints of Employment Discrimination under Section 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, RIN 3046-AB09
Submitted via Regulations.gov RE: Procedures for Previously Exempt State and Local Government Employee Complaints of Employment Discrimination under Section 304 of the Government Employee Rights…
Blog
CEI leads coalition opposing crazy regulatory crackdown on dishwashers
The American public remains angry over federal meddling in gas stoves – for good reason, given that not one but two Biden administration regulatory agencies…
Comment
Comment on Energy Conservation Standards for Dishwashers
I. SUMMARY The proposed rule would tighten the energy and water efficiency standards for residential dishwashers, despite the fact that the standards currently in effect…
Daily Caller
SEAN HIGGINS: Hollywood Unions Are Getting A Bitter Dose Of Reality
The current strike by Hollywood writers and actors is a reactionary, rear-guard effort against changes in technology. The members of the WGA (Writers Guild of…
Blog
Foreign currency manipulation is a red herring
Trade policy is finding its way back into the spotlight thanks to the 2024 election campaign. Both the Biden administration and GOP presidential…
Letters
Letter of Support on the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act and the POST IT Act
Blog
Actors and writers unions are fighting technological change. Expect change to win.
The current strike by Hollywood writers and actors is a reactionary, rear-guard effort against changes in technology. The members of the WGA (Writers Guild of…
Medium
“The FTC Looks to Become the Federal AI Commission”
The R Street Institute’s Adam Thierer argues that an over-zealous approach to regulating AI by the FTC would ultimately harm innovation and competition in the…
Cato Institute
“If the FTC Gets Its Way, Could This Be the Last Prime Day?”
Jennifer Huddleston from the Cato Institute questions whether the FTC’s suit against Amazon could end the company’s annual Prime Day.
Reason
“With Microsoft Victory, Courts Go on Epic Killstreak Against FTC Antitrust Agenda”
The Cato Institute’s Jennifer Huddleston addresses the FTC’s recent lose in federal court, failing to block Microsoft’s acquisition of game developer Activision.
Human Progress
Three Cheers for Refrigeration—and Four, Once Everyone Has It
It is difficult to overstate the benefits of refrigeration. Even more than its technological sibling air conditioning, refrigeration has dramatically improved public health and the…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: nuclear debt collection and high airports
The FTC lost another major antitrust case, this time its bid to stop the Microsoft-Activision merger. CPI inflation dropped to 3 percent, though…
Blog
Republican Working Group issues first critical report against ESG
Last month, the Republican Environmental, Social, and Governance Working Group (ESG Group) unveiled an interim report outlining GOP efforts to combat the ideological subversion of…
News Release
Court Ruling on Ripple Cryptocurrency Case Curbs SEC Powers
A federal court has weighed in on whether a prominent cryptocurrency can be regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a security…
News Release
Coalition warns Congress about Railway Safety Act
The Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Rio Grande Foundation today sent a coalition letter to Congress expressing serious concerns with the Senate’s Railway Safety Act…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: School Choice for Everyone with Ed Tarnowski
In this week’s episode we talk about trends in self-employment, how rent control leads to more evictions, empty corporate gestures on…
Blog
Congress should vote no on the Railway Safety Act, says coalition
The Competitive Enterprise Institute and the Rio Grande Foundation today sent a coalition letter to Congress expressing serious concerns with the Senate’s Railway Safety…
Real Clear Policy
“For an Overreaching Federal Trade Commission, Sunlight Is the Best Disinfectant”
Asheesh Agarwal discusses this week’s congressional oversight of the Federal Trade Commission.
Letters
CEI Co-Leads Coalition Letter on Railroad Safety Act
Dear Members of Congress: The undersigned individuals write to express concerns with the Railway Safety Act (S. 576). Safety advancement in any mode of…
Daily Caller
Supreme Court’s Embrace Of This Legal Theory Means Biden’s Sweeping Electric Vehicle Plans Could Be Unconstitutional
The Daily Caller cites CEI’s Devin Watkins on the Biden administration’s new vehicle emission plan: The EPA’s new emissions rule, which applies…
City Journal
Rebuilding the Constitutional Structure
City Journal cites CEI’s Dan Greenberg and Devin Watkins on constitutional structure: Consider a new Competitive Enterprise Institute report that provides a timely…
City Journal
Rebuilding the Constitutional Structure
City Journal cites CEI’s Constitutional Restoration study by experts Dan Greenberg and Devin Watkins: Consider a new Competitive Enterprise Institute report that provides…
Blog
Fighting extreme climate policies must happen now
There’s no need to make slippery slope arguments when it comes to analyzing the policies pushed by climate alarmists. There’s a simple reason why: We…
Blog
The Teamsters want UPS drivers to go on strike
UPS’s drivers will likely go on strike at the end of the month. It would be a huge disruption to the broader economy – and…
News Release
July CPI report shows key inflation measure still too high
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest report on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) today, showing inflation up 3 percent from one…
News Release
House Oversight and Accountability Committee unanimously advances regulatory reform legislation
Earlier today, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee advanced 41 to 0 the Guidance Out of Darkness (GOOD) Act from Rep. James Comer (R-KY).
Fox Business
VIDEO: Ben Lieberman on Fox’s Varney & Company
CEI’s Ben Lieberman joined Varney & Company to discuss high gas prices and energy policy.
Letters