Blog
Wi-Fi: A freedom and innovation success story
There’s a been a lot of bad news on the regulatory front lately with the FCC darkening broadband’s success with burdensome regulation. But let’s celebrate…
News Release
Supreme Court Allows the Moores to Be Taxed on Income They Never Received
Earlier today, the Supreme Court announced its decision in Moore v U.S. This case challenged the constitutionality of one part of the 2017 Tax…
DC Journal
Energy Industry Warns of ‘Irreparable Harm’ to Grid From EPA’s New Emissions Rule
DC Journal cited CEI’s experts on EPA’s New Emissions Rule “There’s just no way that the numbers work,” said Paige Lambermont, a research fellow at the…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Up from poverty with Josh Bandoch
In this week’s episode we cover pork-barrel spending in Congress, reform of federal guidance documents, restaurants with minimum age requirements, and…
Blog
AEA launches major campaign against the PROVE IT Act
Our friends at the American Energy Alliance (AEA) have launched an important digital campaign against the PROVE IT Act (S.1863).The PROVE IT…
Blog
The Surge: California train regulations, DOE lawsuits, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication…
Blog
Even SCOTUS liberal wing skeptical of NLRB moves
The most notable thing about the Supreme Court’s ruling last week against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Starbucks Corp.
Comment
Request for Comment on Proposed Statement of Policy on Bank Merger
To Whom It May Concern: On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), I respectfully submit the following comments in response to the Federal Deposit…
Blog
Everyone agrees we need more spectrum, so why is Congress making it complicated?
Politics prioritized over policy is de rigueur these days, but it shouldn’t be for spectrum auction reauthorization. The importance to the US economy and to…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: amplifiers and subsidized chickens
CEI’s Joel Zinberg released a new study on guidance document reform. The unemployment rate extended to 30 months its streak of being 4…
The Daily Caller
Biden Admin Outsourcing Energy Policies To Unelected Blue State Bureaucrats
The Daily Caller cited CEI on regulation of consumer energy “EPA-granted waivers enable CARB to effectively dictate motor vehicle, trucking, and rail transport policies for…
Fox News
VIDEO: Fox News Cites Dan Greenberg on Appliance Regulations
Fox News cites CEI General Counsel Dan Greenberg on a lawsuit against Biden’s Department of Energy…
Bloomberg Law
“FTC Noncompete Rule Challenge Will Be Decided Without Hearing”
Bloomberg Law reports on the latest in Ryan LLC’s challenge to the FTC’s noncompete rule in federal court.
Real Clear Markets
“Lina Khan Is the True ‘Mob Boss’ She Claims to Be Going After”
Tom Hebert from Americans for Tax Reform discusses concerning comments Chair Khan made about leaders in the private sector.
Timeline: Federal Trade Commission Unhinged
An illustrative timeline produced by the Competitive Enterprise highlighting the most glaring and head-scratching actions taken by the current Federal Trade Commission.
The Square Center
Study would review DEP permits to ‘get government out of the way’
The Center Square cited CEI on DEP permits An analysis from the Competitive Enterprise Institute found that DEP’s regional offices vary dramatically in the time it…
The Hill
“Antitrust Goes Industrial”
Fred Ashton from American Action Forum discusses the FTC’s attempts to reshape the American economy under Chair Lina Khan.
ProMarket
“The Legality of the FTC’s Noncompete Ban Is Less Certain than Masur and Posner Suggest”
Gus Hurwitz with the International Center for Law & Economics responds to an article by Jonathan Masur and Eric Posner on the fate of the…
DC Journal
“U.S. Tech Groups Say FTC’s Khan Misled Congress over Digital Trade Regs”
Taylor Millard from InsideSources reports on new revelations showing the Lina Khan was less than truthful regarding communications with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
Forbes
Why Corporate Regulation Cannot Safeguard Against AI Existential Risks
As artificial intelligence continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, concerns about existential risks posed by this transformative technology have received increasing attention. While existential risks…
Fox Business
“Biden admin hit with lawsuit over rules about dishwashers and washing machines”
CEI’s Dan Greenburg was quoted in Fox Business on CEI’s lawsuit against the Biden Administration. On June 13th, CEI filed a lawsuit against the Department…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Enlightened capitalism with Siri Terjesen
In this week’s episode we cover regulatory burdens on small businesses, common-sense solutions to poverty, a legal challenge to the TikTok…
Blog
Three years of Chair Lina Khan’s unhinged FTC
Lina Khan’s appointment to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was meant to bring about significant change and a new direction for the independent agency. Before…
News Release
CEI attorneys sue Department of Energy for illegally regulating water limits in home appliances
Attorneys from the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) sued the Department of Energy today on behalf of consumers, arguing that several recent DOE rules…
Blog
Fed hold interest rates steady, balance sheet concerns remain
The Federal Reserve decided to hold interest rates steady at its June 11-12 meeting. This is good news, but the bigger story isn’t about…
Wall Street Journal
“The FTC Brings Back the 1930s”
The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial board highlights the problems with reviving the 1936 Robinson-Patman Act.
National Review
Congress Must Restore the Power of the Purse It Gave Away
One of the most recent decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court is also one of the most disastrous for democratic self-government. The Court’s ruling in …
News Release
May inflation decreases slightly, signals a slowing economy: CEI analysis
The inflation report released for May shows overall inflation decreased from 3.4 percent to 3.3 percent. While inflation levels are unlikely to hit historic…
Blog
Technological limitations of California’s in-use locomotive rule
Like our cardiovascular system, freight trains work like arteries running 24/7 transporting bulk commodities and goods. This includes transporting everything from cardboard boxes for…
Blog
Congress should heed GAO’s new regulatory reform recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a December 2023 report titled “Options for Enhancing Congressional Oversight of Rulemaking and Establishing an Office of Legal…
National Review
Think-Tank President Kent Lassman Swam the English Channel
National Review Cited CEO Kent Lassman for swimming the English Channel Our friend Kent Lassman, president of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, swam…
News Release
Report: Federal Regulatory Agencies Abuse Power with Guidance Documents
A new report by Competitive Enterprise Institute and Paragon Health Institute scholar Dr. Joel Zinberg, Restoring Good Guidance Practices: How to restrain the administrative…
News Release
Report Explores Environmental Permitting Reform in Virginia
Today the Competitive Enterprise Institute released a report on environmental permitting in the state of Virginia, part of a series examining how states are…
Study
Transparency on Tap
The Commonwealth of Virginia has been implementing a Virginia Permit Transparency (VPT) initiative over the last several years, which includes an online permitting portal designed…
Study
Restoring Good Guidance Practices
Executive summary Federal agency guidance documents form a large and expanding part of the administrative state’s regulatory universe. These informal documents including memoranda, bulletins, and…
Blog
Yes, make tipping tax-free
Republican candidate Donald Trump’s proposal to make tips tax-free is a good idea, and not just because it will be a…
Blog
The Surge: EPA’s new power plant rule, the PROVE IT Act, and more
If you are interested in analysis and perspective on current energy and environmental issues, then we encourage you to subscribe to this new publication…
The Washington Times
More than 75% of hotels report nagging labor shortages despite wage hikes
The Washington Times cited CEI’s experts on wage hikes The problem is that immigrants have better job options in a “historically tight” labor market, said…
NOTUS
Hundreds of Lawyers Are Gathering in Washington to Plot a Way to Save Biden’s Climate Agenda
NOTUS cited CEI’ Daren Bakst on Biden’s climate agenda Conservative groups are already eying the Biden administration’s latest regulations, arguing that its focus on climate…
Blog
David Boaz, 1953-2024
It usually begins with Ayn Rand. In my case, it began with David Boaz. David, the Cato Institute’s longtime executive vice president, passed away…
Blog
A brief look at the Senate’s proposed AI regulations
As new artificial intelligence (AI) models release and their capabilities grow, fears around artificial intelligence have begun to crop up as people wonder what AI…
The Washington Times
Biden is coming after your light bulbs — again
The Washington Times cited CEI’s experts on energy regulation “That’s the problem with these agencies. They make their living cranking out more and more regulations.
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: Texas pimplebacks and pension funds
The 60-legislative-day Congressional Review Act deadline has likely passed, unless Congress keeps an unusually busy election year schedule. As a result, rulemaking has slowed to…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Economic facts and vibes with Joey Politano
In this week’s episode we cover advances in dentistry, the slow pace of EV charger deployment, a victory for free speech at…
Blog
The inherent contradictions of unionized political campaigns
President Joe Biden is the first candidate expected to win their party’s presidential nomination with a unionized staff. Whether this is…
News Release
May jobs rebound, skilled workers still needed: CEI analysis
The job situation for May 2024 indicates employment numbers are rebounding with 272,000 jobs added, though employers are still struggling to find the right…
Wall Street Journal
“FTC Opens Antitrust Probe of Microsoft AI Deal”
The Wall Street Journal reports on the FTC’s investigation into Microsoft’s investments in OpenAI and Inflection.
National Review
“Lina Khan’s Amazon Flip-Flop”
Tom Hebert from Americans for Tax Reform discusses Lina Khan’s inconsistent view of Amazon’s prices.
Antitrust Education Project
“Federal Judge in North Carolina Prevents FTC from Killing Two Hospitals”
The Antitrust Education Project details the FTC’s loss in its attempt to block non-profit hospital Novant Health’s acquisitions.
Politico
“FTC Preparing Lawsuit over Alcohol Pricing”
Politico reports on an anticipated lawsuit by the FTC against an American alcohol distributer under the Robinson-Patman Act.
Truth on the Market
“All Roads Lead to Dallas: FTC Non-Compete Rule Set to Fact Its First Legal Test in the Northern District of Texas”
Amir Tayrani from the law firm of Gibson Dunn previews the case challenging the FTC’s noncompete rule.
News Release
AI antitrust investigations go against U.S. innovation: CEI analysis
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) announced new antitrust investigations into investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) made by Microsoft, OpenAI, and…
Blog
The end of the ‘economically significant’ rule
Friends and allies in the liberty movement still often refer to high-cost regulations from the Biden administration as “economically significant” rules. What…
Blog
Regulations hit small businesses and low-income households hardest
There are about 33.3 million small businesses in the United States, comprising 99.9 percent of all American businesses. About half of all employees work for…
News Release
Court Rules Against Improper SEC Regulation of Private Equity, Hedge Fund Managers
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled 3-0 against a controversial Securities and Exchange Commission 2023 rule regulating private equity and hedge fund…
Forbes
California’s SB 1047 Won’t Address Existential Risks From AI
Over the last year, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has captivated the world’s attention, sparking both excitement and concern. As AI systems like OpenAI’s…
Study
Champagne Regulations on a Beer Budget
Regulation is often regarded as akin to a tax, albeit one that takes place off of the government’s books. Similar to a value-added tax, it…
News Release
Report: Regulations disproportionately impose costs on small businesses
A new Competitive Enterprise Institute report identifies ways that federal regulations impose unfair costs and perverse incentives on small businesses every year. “From an equity…
Blog
Three cheers for House efforts to defund climate-related foreign aid
House Republicans should be applauded for introducing an FY 2025 State Department appropriations bill that blocks climate change-related foreign aid. Specifically, the bill wouldn’t…
Blog
21 cents worth of stupid in the Department of Energy’s latest stove proposal
The good news is that the Biden Department of Energy’s (DOE) latest proposed efficiency regulation for residential stoves is considerably less damaging to consumers…
Blog
Conservatives oppose the PROVE IT Act
How does a federal tax on every aspect of our lives sound? How about punishing energy use?It’s probably safe to say that most people think…
Blog
The federal government’s shift toward controlling small business
Recent proclamations by the Biden administration have revealed a worrying shift in the federal government’s attitude toward America’s small businesses. In a new column…
Blog
Unions outdo Donald Trump in crying foul over election losses
The US labor movement is rivaled only by Donald Trump when it comes to throwing out claims of election fraud. Like the Republican presidential candidate,…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: food hazards and powerline permits
Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felonies in his hush money case. Apparently nothing else of note happened all week, since that was the only…
Comment
CEI Comment on Department of Energy Proposed Stove Efficiency Regulation
Docket Number EERE-2014-ST-STD-000589 FR 11,548 and 89 FR 11,434 I. Summary The Department of Energy (DOE) is permitted to set energy efficiency standards for home…
News Release
CEI leads coalition in opposition to PROVE IT Act
The Competitive Enterprise Institute today sent a coalition letter to the House of Representatives in opposition to the PROVE IT Act (S. 1836), which would…
Daily Caller
EXCLUSIVE: Dozens Of Energy Orgs Ask Congress To Kill Bill They Say Would ‘Inevitably’ Lead To Carbon Taxes
CEI’s coalition letter addressing the PROVE IT Act was cited in Daily Caller: Among others, some of the organizations that signed the letter include the…
Daily Caller
EXCLUSIVE: Dozens Of Energy Orgs Ask Congress To Kill Bill They Say Would ‘Inevitably’ Lead To Carbon Taxes
Daily Caller cited CEI on the PROVE ACT Among others, some of the organizations that signed the letter include the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the American…
Forbes
Small Business, Big Government Intervention
Certain official proclamations in recent weeks have highlighted an unnerving shift in the federal government’s relationship with America’s small businesses. This novel stance undermines the…
Letters
CEI House PROVE IT Act Coalition Letter
Dear Representative: Since a House companion to the PROVE IT Act (S.1863) may be introduced soon, the undersigned organizations want to express our strong…
Penn Live
Harrisburg is taking a wrong approach to drug pricing | PennLive letters
CEI’s Joel Zinberg was cited in a Penn Live article on Pharmacy Benefit Managers: Joel Zinberg from the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) explains, “PBMs enhance…
Blog
Freddie Mac second mortgage funding could foment financial crisis
The 2008 mortgage meltdown and financial crisis never fails to be invoked whenever there is any pushback to excessive financial regulation. Progressives regularly bring up…
Blog
Are ‘loser’ states responsible for the US trade deficit?
Both presidential candidates have promised that greater trade restrictions will be on the way if they win. Biden has recently placed…
Blog
When emergency declarations become the emergency
Crises and economic shocks have a history of abuse. Few are aware that there are 31 declared and ongoing national emergencies, with some active…
News Release
CEI leads coalition urging Congress to stop EPA’s power plant rule
The Competitive Enterprise Institute today led a coalition letter to Congress in support of an effort to undo the EPA’s power plant rule, which…
National Review
A respectable pro-trade proclamation would talk about market access, tariff reduction, and liberalized markets.
Bloomberg Law
NRA Ruling Eyed for Clues in Supreme Court Social Media Case
CEI’s Devin Watkins was cited in a Bloomberg Law article on the likely legal justification of an incoming Supreme Court ruling: Devin Watkins, an…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition Letter Supporting CRA Resolution of Disapproval on EPA Power Plant Rule
Dear Members of Congress, The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently finalized powerplant rule will kill America’s existing supply of baseload generation…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Capitalism and the historians with Phil Magness
In this week’s episode we cover the prospect of Inflation Reduction Act 2.0, rising consumer confidence, the perils of stress bragging,…
News Release
Supreme Court unanimous on free speech in NRA case ruling
The Supreme Court today unanimously ruled in favor of free speech rights in NRA v. Vullo, a case in which the Competitive Enterprise Institute had…
Daily Caller
Dozens Of Energy Groups Ask Congress To Overturn Biden’s Green Power Plant Rules
Washington Post
“The FTC’s Trustbusting Is Getting Ridiculous. Luxury Handbags? Please.”
George Will with the Washington Post highlights the absurdity of the FTC’s case against the Tapestry-Capri merger.
Truth on the Market
“Will the FTC Reinvigorate an Antiquated Law that Raises Prices?”
Alden Abbott from Mercatus Center warns that an attempt by the FTC to revive the Robinson-Patman Act would be ill-advised.
Wall Street Journal
“Lina Khan’s Amazon Antitrust Paradox”
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board discusses the FTC’s opposition to the American Booksellers Association intervening its suit against Amazon.
Blog
New bill would increase spending transparency, more regulatory transparency needed
Galileo may not have uttered the famous words, “Measure what is measurable, and make measurable what is not so,” but the sentiment behind that admonition…
Washington Examiner
Buzz: Household debt to Feds $815,788; Trump-Levin share well-done steaks
CEI’s Wayne Crews is cited in Washington Examiner on the per-household debt burden: Our friend Clyde Wayne Crews, the regulations expert at the Competitive Enterprise Institute,…
Blog
Wind subsidies are rising, but wind power production isn’t
New data recently released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows a decrease in wind power production in 2023. Despite record highs in installed wind capacity…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: electric programs and EV powertrains
The midnight rush to beat the 60-legislative-day deadline for possible Congressional Review Act repeals appears to be slowing down, but Federal Register activity is still…
Politico
Biden’s got a plan to protect science from Trump
CEI’s Joel Zinberg was cited in Politico on the obstacles Trump faces with the NIH: Trump should have no illusions about what he’s up against,…
Real Clear Politics
Who Gets To Say What the Rules Are?
Who gets to make the rules in American government? One of the most controversial and important cases before the Supreme Court concerns that crucial question.
Blog
Fewer Memorial Day gimmicks, more oil production will bring down gasoline prices
The Biden administration treats high gasoline prices as a public relations problem rather than a real hardship for millions of Americans, hence the gimmicky announcement…
Blog
Biden’s oil and gas production problem
The Biden administration has an oil and gas production problem—and it’s not what you might think. The problem is that production is higher than ever,…
Wall Street Journal
For the Sake of Free Speech, Keep Section 230
The only remedy Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Pallone Jr. offer for online harms is to turn the plaintiffs’ bar loose on tech companies, a curious…
News Release
DOJ’s suit to breakup Live Nation-Ticketmaster will not lead to lower prices for entertainment
The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit today against Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, alleging anticompetitive behavior. The DOJ lawsuit seeks to…
Letters
CEI Signs Coalition Letter in Support of Opposing Freddie Mac’s Second Mortgage Product
Washington Examiner
Congress Can Remove Federal Obstacles to Alaskan Energy Production
The people and economy of Alaska and the nation took a big hit when regulators at the U.S. Department of Interior cancelled a host of…
Wall Street Journal
For the Sake of Free Speech, Keep Section 230
The only remedy Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Pallone Jr. offer for online harms is to turn the plaintiffs’ bar loose on tech companies, a curious…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Giving for a cause with Peter Lipsett
In this week’s episode we cover attitudes toward social media companies, the guerilla war over ESG investing, YIMBY housing reforms in…
National Review
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Section 230
The House Energy and Commerce Committee released a draft bill to sunset the online liability shield commonly known as Section 230. The proposal is…
Blog
New CEI book: Adam Smith’s guide to life, loveliness, and the modern economy
Adam Smith is 300 years old, and CEI is 40 years old. To celebrate this dual milestone, I edited an essay collection about Adam…