Blog
CEI Weekly: Happy Presidents Day!
Blog
How Worrisome is the Race to the Bottom Argument?
Blog
CEI’s Battered Business Bureau: The Week in Regulation
It may have been a short work week, but it was still a busy one in the world of regulation. Here are the highlights:…
Blog
America Now Has Bigger Welfare State Than Canada, Italy, Denmark, and Austria
America now has a bigger welfare state than most countries, effectively doling out more welfare than Canada, Denmark, Austria, and Italy. As the New York…
Newsletter
Pensions, Airline Carbon Taxes, and Global Warming
Blog
Today’s Links: February 24, 2012
Citation
The Anti-GM Food Circus Rolls Through Connecticut
From the American Council on Science and Health’s “Health Facts and Fears”: But as Gregory Conko, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise…
Daily Caller
Dem. Governor Claims Fewer Regulations Under Obama Than Under Bush
From Neil Monro's article in The Daily Caller: In his 2012…
Blog
The Demographics of Politics
Blog
CEI Podcast for February 23, 2012: Global Warming and Mass Movements
In 1841, the Scottish writer Charles Mackay observed, " the cup of life is not bitter enough to our palate, and we distill superfluous poison…
Blog
Airline Carbon Taxes: The EU vs. the World
On Tuesday and Wednesday, representatives from 23 nations gathered in Moscow to discuss their response to the European Union’s mandatory airline carbon taxes. CEI’s Fran…
Daily Caller
Coastal Drilling
From a letter to the editor in The Ventura County Star: I’m terribly disappointed that …
Blog
Regulation of the Day 212: Locating Your Newsstand
New York City requires newsstands to be located at least 9 feet, 6 inches away from buildings. Marilyn Louie's newsstand has sat in the same…
Blog
Workers Deserve the Right to Remain Silent
Openmarket.org The California Legislature is considering a “Public Employee Bill of Rights” that (among other things) would restrict the state’s ability to hire outside contractors…
Blog
Workers Deserve the Right to Remain Silent
The California Legislature is considering a “Public Employee Bill of Rights” that (among other things) would restrict the state’s ability to hire outside contractors and…
Blog
Today’s Links: February 22, 2012
Forbes
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s Real Crisis
On February 1, American Airlines—which declared bankruptcy last November—announced plans to end defined benefit pensions as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring plan. If approved…
Forbes
Recounting George Washington’s Brilliant Entrepreneurship
February is an important month in the history of American commerce. In this month is the birthday of one of the country’s earliest business innovators…
Forbes
How the Dodd-Frank Act Harms the U.S. Energy Industry
From Pete Sepp’s op-ed in U.S. News & World Report:…
Forbes
The STOCK ACT and the SEC
Needless to say, it is a minority opinion that current insider-trading laws reach government information, or else there wouldn’t have been this much of a…
The American Spectator
FakeGate: Just Another Day at Team Green
As I follow FakeGate's trajectory, on its way to being another instructive crash-n-burn for the global warming industry's zealots, I see a pretense…
Blog
Constitutions and Democracies
It is the height of hubris to claim that one knows how to build a democracy from scratch. But there are a few common themes…
Blog
Regulation of the Day 211: The Color of Buildings
Officials in Calcutta, India definitely have a favorite color: sky blue.
Blog
Today’s Links: February 21, 2012
Newsletter
Collective Bargaining, Keystone, and Global Warming
Blog
Blaming the Drink Is Loko
It’s a tragic story: a 13-year-old boy falls out of a moving car because he is drunk and opens the door to throw up.
Blog
Apple Magsafe class action settlement objection
We’ve objected to the Apple Magsafe class action settlement, which was recently criticized by AtlanticWire. Details at Point of Law.
The American Spectator
Give Greece a Going Away Present, But Go It Must
The rate at which things are deteriorating in Greece now officially exceeds the rate at which desperate Eurocrats weave new fantasies as they try to…
The American Spectator
Republicans rebel against an oily transportation bill
From Brian Merchant’s article on Salon: A burgeoning number of Republicans think not. Especially after the grim CBO forecast, fiscal conservatives are backing away. Influential…
The American Spectator
An Unintended Consequence
From George Leef’s post on the National Review Online: Thanks to the college-for-everyone mania, we have a shortage of workers capable for doing…
The American Spectator
Bennett Hypothesis 2.0
From George Leef’s post on National Review Online: On Minding the Campus today, Peter Wood, Rich Vedder, Hans Bader, Herbert London, and I…
Daily Caller
Simplicity is Beautiful: How to Build a Democracy
The Arab Spring is over a year old now. It’s too early to tell if that movement will bring liberal democracy to countries that badly…
Blog
Severe Shortage of Skilled Factory Workers As Government Encourages Students to Pursue White-Collar Jobs
The government has encouraged people who once would have become skilled and valuable factory workers to instead go to college and work in white-collar jobs, contributing…
Blog
Taxmageddon Comes Just After the Election
On December 31, shortly after the November election, tax rates will rise across the board in what congressional aides call "Taxmageddon," notes The Washington Post. Not…
Blog
The STOCK Act: A Response to Professor Bainbridge
Professor Stephen Bainbridge recently responded to a National Review Online article by my colleagues John Berlau and David Bier in which they argue…
Blog
Government-Funded Job Training “Might Not Work”: Washington Post
Even a liberal Washington Post writer admits that taxpayer-subsidized job training “might not work,” despite its popularity with politicians, and President Obama’s desire to spend billions more…
Blog
Is the Obama Administration Trying to Expand Federal Collective Bargaining?
An Obama-created board within the federal Office of Personnel Management's recently approved "an outline of a report due to President Obama in May on personnel issues…
Blog
The Economist: Too Much Regulation
Sounds like writers for ?The Economist? have been reading some of CEI's regulatory research. From this week's magazine:…
Blog
Today’s Links: February 17, 2012
Daily Caller
February 17 Roundup
From Walter Olsen’s Overlawyered post: – Mortgage robo-signing settlement not actually as punitive toward the banks as you might think, succeeds in sticking…
Daily Caller
Birth Control Mandate ‘Misconceptions’
From Chris Woodward and Charlie Butts’ column on OneNewsNow: An attorney is clearing up what he calls “misconceptions” about the Obama administration’s mandate…
Daily Caller
Global Warming–the Great Delusion
(This op-ed also appeared on RealClearPolitics.) In 1841 a Scottish journalist named Charles Mackay published a study of mass hysteria titled “Extraordinary…
Washington Times
No Master Lock on Job Creation
From Anneke Green's column in The Washington Times: The Obama administration’s favoritism for cronies is another drag on the business climate, such as…
Washington Times
Shoppers already have a choice regarding biotech foods
Consumers increasingly base food purchasing decisions on individual preferences about product content. For many, this means a focus on nutrition or fat. Others care more…
Blog
CEI Podcast for February 16, 2012: Washington’s Prescription Drug Shortage
Patients are suffering from a nationwide shortage of more than 260 different prescription drugs, many of them for different types of cancer. Senior Fellow Greg…
Newsletter
Testimony on Jobs, Corruption, and a Contraception Mandate
Blog
Connecticut Government Focuses on Non-Union Worker Collective Bargaining “Options”
Yesterday, the next step toward Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy completing his scheme to force unionize personal care attendants took place. CTNewsJunkie.com reported: The four-member…
Blog
I Can Succeed, But You Can’t: The Left’s Message to Waitresses
One of the left’s favorite mantras is that government regulations and special interest groups provide the only ways that workers can get ahead. This notion…
Blog
High Unemployment Masked by Exploding Disability Claims that Lead to Permanently-Higher Government Spending
The official unemployment rate is going down, but that's partly because many long-term unemployed people went onto Social Security Disability, citing ailments such as depression. …
Blog
Today’s Links: February 16, 2012
Renew America
U.S. Hostages Abroad and High Gas Prices at Home–It’s Jimmy Carter Redux
From Alan Caruba's column on RenewAmerica: The U.S. government has been messing around with the fuel economy program — believe it or not…
Renew America
Bringing Democracy Back to the Workplace
Imagine a presidential election in which one candidate may campaign for a year and the other is told he is running only one week before…
Indian Country
First Cobell Settlement Appeal Heard
Indian Country discusses the case in which Ted Frank represented an appeal of a settlement that was not fairly distributed and left some class members overpaid and…
Legal Times
D.C. Circuit Examines $3.4B Settlement In Native American Trust Case
Legal Times reports on the case in which Ted Frank represents Kimberly Craven who claims that a settlement was not fairly distributed. Theodore…
Law 360
$3.4B Tribal Land Settlement Faces Challenge In DC Circ.
Law 360 reports on a case CCAF objected to because the settlement would not be distributed fairly to class members. “Not every class…
Blog
California Considers “Public Employee Bill of Rights”
Openmarket.org The California State Assembly is considering sweeping legislation aimed at protecting the “rights” of state employees. According to its sponsor, Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento),…
Blog
California Considers “Public Employee Bill of Rights”
The California State Assembly is considering sweeping legislation aimed at protecting the “rights” of state employees. According to its sponsor, Assemblyman Roger Dickinson…
Blog
Regulation of the Day 210: Transgendered Air Travelers
Canada is cracking down on the latest terrorist threat to innocent people everywhere: transgendered people. If their appearance doesn't match their ID's listed gender, they're…
Blog
Congress Seems Intent on Making Drug Shortages Worse
Now that the problem of prescription drug shortages has begun to affect children, members of Congress want to be seen as…
Blog
Regulation, Jobs, and Creating Wealth
Lobbying, politicking, and special favors are part and parcel of the regulatory process. The result is that many regulation-created jobs are not created on the…
Blog
Lame Duck Sen. Herb Kohl Continues Quixotic Battle Against Rail Carriers in Senate Highway Bill
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), who will not be seeking reelection this November, decided that he would make one last-ditch attempt to get his awful piece…
Blog
Today’s Links: February 15, 2012
Law 360
Letter to the Editor: Obama’s Contraception Compromise Doesn’t Quell Debate
Rachel Maddow [“The Republican war on contraception,” op-ed, Feb. 12] is mistaken when she defends the Obama administration’s recent rule requiring Catholic hospitals and…
Law 360
How is the FDA Really Doing?
I read with interest—and mounting skepticism—Patricia Dimond’s Insight & Intelligence™ piece about FDA, “FDA New Drug Approvals in 2011 Outpace…
Politico
Heartland Burned by “DenialGate” Memos
From Darren Samuelsohn's article in Politico: Myron Ebell, director of energy and global warming policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, said…
Politico
House Republicans Push New Oil Drilling to Fund Road Projects
From The Los Angeles Times‘ Nation Now Blog: A coalition of groups, including Taxpayers for Common Sense and the pro-market Competitive Enterprise Institute,…
News Release
Where Are the Jobs? House Seeks Answers in Wednesday Hearing Featuring CEI’s John Berlau
Washington, DC, February 15, 2012 – With unemployment still stubbornly high and the economy still in tenuous shape, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and…
Comment
Testimony on Jobs Before House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
Full Document Available in PDF Chairwoman Bono Mack, Ranking Member Butterfield, and members of thissubcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present…
Blog
Maryland Weighs Discriminatory College Child Support Mandate
Married parents have no obligation to support their adult children, much less pay for their college education. But many Maryland legislators would like to force divorced…
Blog
Today’s Links: February 14, 2012
Blog
Misconceptions about the Obama Administration’s Contraception Mandate for Religious Employers
There are a number of misconceptions about the Obama administration’s recent rule requiring employers’ health insurance policies (including those of religious schools and hospitals) to…
Comment
Comment Letter on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Economy Standards
Full Document Available in PDF Re: 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy…
Politico
Today House Republicans Are Set To Approve Barack Obama’s Latest Stimulus Plan
Politico
Highway Bill Generates Bipartisan Backlash
Politico
Ayn Rand Was an Illegal Immigrant
From Shika Dalmia’s article in Reason: Yes, every nation has the right to control its borders. But both liberal and illiberal immigration policies…
Politico
User Pays
From Politico‘s Morning Transportation: A coalition is urging the House to stick to the user-pays tradition of financing transportation, saying that it is…
Politico
Free Cupcakes! GOP Hispanic Super PAC Reaches Out
From Pema Levy’s article in Talking Points Memo: The next morning, four panelists met in the hotel’s main ballroom to discuss immigration. The…
Politico
Making Sure Corruption Remains “Made in America”
In the annals of American legislation, few laws are as futile in their impact, capricious in their enforcement, and hypocritical in their content as the…
Politico
Highway Bill Put on Hold for Now
From Geoff Holtzman’s article on Talk Radio News Service: Earlier this week, the pro-environment National Resources Defense Council teamed with a coalition of…
Blog
Regulation of the Day 209: Playing on the Beach
A recent Los Angeles County ordinance made it illegal to throw balls and even Frisbees on the city’s beaches.
Blog
Global Biotech Crop Acreage Up, Plus Clayton Yeutter on the Miracle of American Agriculture
Global planting of biotech crops grew 8 percent last year, to a record high of 395 million total acres, according to…
Blog
Government Thwarts Cancer Cures and Production of Life-Saving Drugs
The federal government thwarted a promising cancer treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski on trial twice, saying “it did…
Blog
Today’s Links: February 13, 2012
Newsletter
Solyndra, the STOCK Act, and the Bank Foreclosure Settlement
Letters
Coalition Letter Urges Congress to Reject Linking Drilling Revenues to the Highway Trust Fund
Full Document Available in PDF The Competitive Enterprise Institute, Reason Foundation, National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and…
The American Spectator
Busting Union Reform
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is touting the recent passage of his "compromise" bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency that oversees U.S. air…
The American Spectator
Orwellian Doublespeak Dominates Economic Policy
While taking in my morning helping of news and commentary, I was struck by a certain similarity in every article touching on economic policy. It…
The American Spectator
How to Swap the Obama Budget for an Optimistic Economic Growth Agenda
New spending in President Obama’s $3.8 trillion fiscal year 2013 budget would increase investments in education, manufacturing and R&D, transportation projects, electric vehicle incentives and…
The American Spectator
Federal Highway Aid to Indiana Could Dip
The American Spectator
Calls for ‘Self-Deportation’ of Illegal Immigrants Win Applause at Conservative Conference
The American Spectator
CPAC Panelist Booed for Speaking Truth on Immigration
The American Spectator
CPAC, Immigration, and Racism Accusations
The American Spectator
Co-Author of Arizona Immigration Law Says Self-Deportation Working
Blog
Rising Voter Apathy
Blog
$26 Billion Mortgage Settlement Rips Off Investors to Trim Banks’ Massive Costs of Bailing Out Deadbeat Borrowers
The $26 billion mortgage settlement announced yesterday is bad news for “bond investors including pension funds, according to Pacific Investment Management Co.’s Scott Simon,”…
Blog
The STOCK Act’s Muzzle and How to Fix it in Conference (Update)
My colleagues David Bier and Ryan Radia contributed to this post. Per the scenario in a previous post, it’s April 2012. You are a…
Blog
Today’s Links: February 10, 2012
International Business Times
Highway-Oriented House Transportation Bill: Why It’s Hated by Everyone
International Business Times
Transportation bill takes wrong road
Blog
Principles of Law: Simplicity is Beautiful
Countries across the world have turned to democracy in recent decades. There are still a few monarchies here and there, and plenty of dictatorships. Cuba…