Blog
FTC declares mergers to be union-busting
In a classic case of regulatory creep, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently asserted jurisdiction over labor unions and collective bargaining. The agency…
National Review
The SEC’s Climate-Disclosure Rule Goes against 90 Years of Restraint
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is finalizing a mandatory climate-disclosure rule for public companies — perhaps the costliest regulatory mandate in its entire 90-year…
Fox News
Biden admin finalizes environmental regulations targeting clothes washers, dryers
CEI’s Ben Lieberman is cited in Fox News about environmental regulations targeting appliances: “What we’re learning is that the government ought to…
National Review
“The Organized-Labor Subplot in the FTC’s Decision to Block the Kroger/Albertsons Merger”
Dominic Pino from the National Review discusses the FTC’s strange relevant market definition of “union grocery labor” in its recent challenge to the Kroger/Albertsons…
ITIF
“Why the Robinson-Patman Act Revival May Backfire”
Trelysa Long with the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) explains why a revival of the Robinson-Patman Act would help neither small businesses nor…
Blog
Where do regulations go when Congress shutters an agency?
The way the federal government spends money rarely changes until a crisis comes along. Arguably, we’re already there with federal debt service (interest) payments…
Blog
An exemplary climate debate on campus
I recently returned from Miami and the campus of Florida International University (FIU), where I was pleased to take part in the FIU…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Politically homeless with John Tillman
In this week’s episode we cover an environmental conference in Miami, allegedly underfunded government schools, Google’s AI diversity debacle, and…
Fox Business
Nobody is going to use Google’s woke chatbot unless they ‘fix’ its bias: Jessica Melugin
CEI’s Jessica Melugin is featured in a Fox News interview about Google’s woke chatbot: Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com Watch the…
National Review
Covid Vaccines: An Update on Balancing Risks and Benefits
A new large, multi-country study has confirmed what previous smaller studies found: Covid-19 vaccines have risks. In particular, the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines from Pfizer…
News Release
Economy in a healthy spot for further growth: CEI analysis
Today’s GDP numbers for the fourth quarter of 2023 showed economic growth stood at 3.2 percent, a slight downward trend compared to the…
News Release
CEI leads coalition of 20 groups in comment on EPA’s draft Scientific Integrity Policy
The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) led a coalition of 20 groups in a comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft “Scientific Integrity…
Blog
Senate should pass bill to stop Biden’s liquified natural gas export ‘pause’
The Biden administration announced a pause last month on new approvals for liquified natural gas (LNG) exports to non-Free Trade Agreement (non-FTA) countries.
Comment
Regulatory Comment on 88 FR 89410
To the Honorable Rostin Behnam, Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Honorable Commissioners Kristen N. Johnson, Cristy Goldsmith Romero, Summer K.
Comment
CEI Comments on California’s Advanced Clean Cars II Waiver Request
Thank you for the opportunity to comment[1] on the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) request for a waiver under Section 209(b) of…
Blog
EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy is unscientific, lacks integrity
The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a draft update to its “Scientific Integrity Policy,” which aims to ensure the agency’s science-based decisions…
DC Journal
Economists, Free Market Groups Urge Congress to Reject RECOUP Act
CEI’s John Berlau is cited in DC Journal on outside groups to reject the RECOUP Act: That’s the concern of John Berlau with…
News Release
Coalition Warns Against RECOUP Act that Gives Vast Powers to Banking Regulators
The Competitive Enterprise Institute and Americans for Tax Reform today led a coalition letter to congressional leaders opposing the RECOUP Act. CEI’s John Berlau…
Letters
CEI Leads Letter Rejecting Recoup Act
Dear Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McConnell: As leaders of policy groups concerned with constitutional liberties, government…
Politico
FTC, states challenge Kroger’s $25 billion grocery merger with Albertsons
CEI’s Jessica Melugin is cited in Politico on the FTC and states challenging Kroger’s merger with Albertsons: Not everyone is supportive of the…
Blog
What ails the working class?
Late last month I was privileged to be asked to speak at a Heritage Foundation event on the subject of the continuing travails…
Blog
NLRB ruling on college athletes may foul foreign players
Nothing produces untended consequences like government action, and no one can say that the National Labor Relation Board’s (NLRB) isn’t producing its fare share.
News Release
FTC suit to stop Krogers-Albertsons Merger would harm consumers
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today sued to stop the proposed merger between grocers Kroger and Albertsons. The FTC claims the merger would…
Blog
Worried about massive federal debt? Time to right-size the regulators
In the annals of federal bloat, a milestone is looming as noted in another post last week: 2024 interest payments on America’s $34…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: Space debris and dried prunes
The privately-built Odysseus spacecraft became the first American moon lander since 1972. President Biden announced new Russian sanctions in response to opposition leader Aleksey…
Fortune
“The Federal Trade Commission and Chair Lina Khan Are Plagued by Classic Mismanagement”
Fortune magazine reports on the U.S. House Judiciary’s new report on mismanagement at the FTC.
Forbes
The GAO Weighs In On Regulatory Reform Options For Congress
The Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) December 2023 Options for Enhancing Congressional Oversight of Rulemaking and Establishing an Office of Legal Counsel ought not be overlooked by…
House Judiciary Committee Releases Report on Mismanagement at FTC
House Judiciary Committee released a new report titled “Abuse of Power, Waste of Resources, and Fear: What Internal Documents and Testimony from Career Employees…
Wall Street Journal
“Lina Khan’s Trumpian Precedent”
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board discusses the staffing and management problems at the FTC under Chair Lina Khan.
News Release
Supreme Court Today Hears Lawsuits Centered on Social Media Companies’ Property/Speech Rights
Today, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Moody v. NetChoice & CCIA and NetChoice & CCIA v. Paxton. Jessica Melugin, director…
Just the News
EPA finalizes air pollution standards that critics say will cost jobs and hurt the economy
CEI’s Daren Bakst is cited in Just the News on EPA air pollution standards: “It’s going to hurt economies. It’s going to…
Comment
Scientific Integrity Policy Draft for Public Comment
February 23, 2024 Docket ID: EPA-HQ-ORD-2023-0240; FRL-10973-01-ORD Submitted via Regulations.gov. Comments Submitted by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Energy & Environment Legal…
Blog
I’ve got your ‘common good’ right here
As a classical liberal, I believe in the value of free markets and individual liberty, but as a Freedom Conservative, I also feel…
Blog
Amazon primal: Retailer calls NLRB unconstitutional
Amazon has joined the growing chorus of businesses declaring that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) may be unconstitutional. Along with SpaceX and Trader…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Federal tech with Deb Collier
In this week’s episode we cover the future of environmental policy, rare earth minerals in Wyoming, and what we can learn…
Boston Globe
“Blame Elizabeth Warren and the FTC for iRobot Layoffs”
Beth Lindstrom argues in the Boston Globe that the ideologically driven pursuits at the FTC are harming workers, not helping.
Washington Examiner
Capital One merger could make Discover a rival to the largest credit cards in payments
CEI’s John Berlau is cited in the Washington Examiner on the credit-card merger: “Discover is currently in fourth place in card network size,…
Bloomberg Law
“FTC, States to Sue Over Kroger-Albertsons Deal Next Week”
Bloomberg Law reports on the FTC’s planned antitrust suit.
Real Clear Markets
“Congress to the FTC: Stop Attacking the U.S.’s Entrepreneurial Spirit”
Paul Steidler with the Lexington Institute underscores the importance of Congressional oversight of the Federal Trade Commission.
Blog
Trade is a tool for American national security
Free trade policies have recently come under attack on national security grounds. One of the attackers is Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). His argument…
Blog
New student loan proposal is regressive, politicized, and won’t stop rising prices
President Biden this week unveiled a new student debt relief proposal. It would cancel student debt for up to 153,000 people who incurred…
Fox Business
How Capital One’s acquisition of Discover could impact consumers
CEI’s John Berlau is cited in Fox Business on the acquisition: John Berlau, director of finance policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI),…
Blog
NLRB v. EEOC: Damned if you fire, damned If you don’t
The National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) aggressive new enforcement stance is creating a terrible bind for some businesses: if they try to avoiding penalties…
Blog
Today’s federal spending makes the Louisiana Purchase look like pocket change
The week of Presidents’ Day 2024 comes at a lull before contentious budget battles resume in early March. It is thus an opportune…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: Cooking energy and steel plants
News Release
Capital One/Discover Merger Not a Threat to Competition, Overregulation Is
The proposed merger between Capital One and Discover is not a threat to competition in the credit market, but there is one big looming…
Forbes
Spiraling Debt Demands Bipartisan Mobilization To Terminate Federal Departments And Agencies
In a federal government seemingly incapable of sticking to the necessary and proper, 2024 interest payments on debt topping $34 trillion are set to surpass defense spending as well…
D.C. Journal
Biden’s Energy Strategy and Wishful Thinking
The Biden administration has repeatedly decided to restrict domestic oil and gas lease sales dramatically. As it develops policies to limit supply, the…
Marketplace Public Radio
The Economic Issues Expected to Come Up at CPAC 2024
CEI’s Iain Murray was cited in Marketplace Public Radio concerning tariffs: “One of the things that I think we’ll see is actually an…
Blog
George Washington’s marvelous list of liberties and grievances
On the federal holiday on Monday and on his real birthday on Thursday, February 22, we celebrate the 292nd birthday of our nation’s first…
Blog
Off-the-rails FTC wrong answer for keeping kids safe online
This week the Washington Post reported that the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is poised to pass the Senate, but faces hurdles…
Daily Caller
Biden Is Pushing Unions To Strike — But Not Just In The Way You Think
CEI’s Sean Higgins is cited in Daily Caller on union related strikes: “Inflation is likely spurring some of the strike activity,” Sean…
Blog
Time to simplify trade agreements
Over at National Review’s Capital Matters site, Kent Lassman and I make the case that trade agreements should stick to trade. We also…
Letters
Coalition Letter to Support the Stop Woke Investing Act (S. 3179)
We, the undersigned organizations, are writing in support of the Stop Woke Investing Act (S. 3179). The bill was introduced by Sens. Eric…
Blog
Red tape? More like chains, thanks to deficit spending and subsidies
Federal subsidies and grants are infamous for having strings attached. That’s nothing new, but those strings are increasingly chains. Businesses are being seduced…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Federalism wins with Patrick Gleason
In this week’s episode we cover President Biden’s attack on shrinkflation, barriers to workplace flexibility, and a motherlode of domestic…
Blog
Major asset managers drop climate activism
It’s all over the business news headlines this morning: Major money managers are exiting an international alliance focused on influencing climate change policy and…
Blog
CEI’s The Surge: Biden admin particulate matter rule, GOP carbon tax support, 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…
Forbes
“FTC’s Misguided Antitrust Regulation Threatens Pharma Innovation”
Venture capitalist Standish Fleming argues that the FTC’s actions in the pharmaceuticals industry will deny patients of new treatments.
Commentary Magazine
“The Power Broker Her: The Rise and (Maybe) Fall of Lina Khan”
Adam J. White from the American Enterprise Institute provides a comprehensive analysis of Lina Khan’s tenure as FTC Chair.
Washington Examiner
“House Republicans Seek Interviews with FTC Staff over Alleged Legal Breaches by Lina Khan”
The Washington Examiner reports on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability’s latest inquiry into whether FTC Chair Lina Khan ignored federal ethics laws.
Wall Street Journal
“The Story Behind Biden’s Trade Failure”
The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial board explains how the the FTC under Chair Lina Khan is hijacking US trade policy.
Boston Herald
“Leftists Out to Slay ‘Monster’ Amazon”
Former US Senator and Ambassador Scott Brown talks about the lost jobs resulting from the FTC’s scuttling of the merger between Amazon and iRobot.
The Seattle Times
“FTC, Amazon Spar Over Antitrust Lawsuit that Could ‘Alter’ the Company”
The Seattle Times provides the latest on the FTC’s suit against Amazon.
Libertarian Institute
“New Merger Guidelines Could Make 2024 a Difficult Year for Business and Biden”
Norman Singleton from the Market Institute discusses the problems with the new merger guidelines and argues that court should ignore the new guidance.
Blog
Biden liquefied natural gas export ‘pause’ hurts Americans and our allies
The Biden administration recently announced plans to pause approvals for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to countries in which the United States…
City Journal
Ignoring the Science
A new CDC study reports that the first updated Covid-19 vaccine—the bivalent vaccine approved in fall 2022—was about 50 percent effective in blocking infection over a…
American Radio Journal
Ryan Young on Persistent Inflation
Letters
Coalition Letter on FCC Digital Discrimination rule
December 13, 2023 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is out of control. On November 15, the agency voted to adopt a Report…
News Release
January’s inflationary numbers higher than most realize: CEI analysis
The Consumer Price Index numbers for January reportedly rose 0.3 percent compared to the month before, but CEI’s senior economist Ryan Young explains…
The Federalist Society
Explainer 62 – FDA’s Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests
CEI’s Joel Zinberg joined a podcast hosted by The Federalist Society for the Regulatory Transparency Project on the FDA’s regulation of laboratory developed tests:…
National Review
We Must Reject Our Elites’ Failed, Top-Down Environmentalism
Last month in Davos, the World Economic Forum (WEF) held its 54th annual meeting where world leaders suggested countries should make significant concessions to address…
Washington Examiner
Two energy rules threaten grid reliability
In its recent annual electricity report, the International Energy Agency found that U.S. electricity demand is likely to grow in the next three years. It…
Washington Examiner
White House pushes ‘shrinkflation’ messaging to assign blame to corporations
CEI’s Ryan Young is cited on the Washington Examiner: “Shrinkflation is real, but it’s not a partisan issue. Shrinkflation is part of the…
Blog
The GOP is souring on free trade
It is no secret that the median voter is either unaware or doesn’t care how most policies actually work, from immigration to health care…
Blog
Adam Smith, national ruin, and human progress
During the American Revolution, British Member of Parliament John Sinclair wrote a letter to Adam Smith. He was worried about how badly the war…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: Horseracing and postal products
The Supreme Court heard a case about whether Donald Trump should be disqualified from holding public office under the Fourteenth Amendment. A lawyer’s memo…
Blog
Energy and Environment Regulatory Tracker: EV mandates, EPA confuses science and policy, and more!
Keeping track of the most important energy and environmental federal rules can be difficult. The following lists some important proposed rules with open comment…
Blog
Regulatory reform in the 118th Congress: The POST IT Act
When navigating federal regulations, small businesses frequently encounter challenges in understanding and adhering to them. This lack of clarity poses significant hurdles for both…
Sound Cloud
Young Could A Trade Agreement Between Switzerland And The US Make Other Trade Agreements Easier
CEI’s Ryan Young is cited as a special guest on the Lars Larson Show discussing international trade: Listen to the recording on…
Blog
FTC commissioner wants to regulate worker misclassification, decries ‘unfair competition’
Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya has announced that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will get into the business of enforcing labor law. That was…
The Center Square
Oregon to make state employee retirement fund net-zero on carbon emissions
CEI’s Daren Bakst is cited on The Center Square on employee retirement fund in Oregon State: Daren Baskt, Director of the Center…
Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Understanding AI with Matthew Mittelsteadt
In this week’s episode we cover Elon Musk’s controversial pay package, protecting children online, and the Biden administration’s slamming the…
Blog
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: A slush fund for the EPA and favored nonprofits
President Joe Biden signed the so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law on August 16, 2022. The bill, enacted on a purely partisan…
Forbes
Reimagining Antitrust In A Post-Consumer Welfare Standard World
The consumer welfare standard that has guided antitrust enforcement for four decades is under attack. That standard, often associated with the ideas of legal scholar and…
Forbes
Convincing Voters That Less Choice Means Stronger Democracy Isn’t Easy
CEI’s Iain Murray is cited on Forbes on the Department of Labor’s new rule: In a January 26 column on the Department…
Daily Caller
‘A Bad Day For Sound Science’: Republicans, Energy Experts Torch Biden’s Newest Air Quality Regulation
CEI’s Daren Bakst is cited on Daily Caller about new energy regulations: “Today is a bad day for sound science, scientific integrity,…
Fox News
Why gas stove owners should still be worried
In response to a strong public backlash, the Biden administration Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to backtrack on its proposed new energy efficiency regulation of…
Blog
Congress takes on anti-consumer furnace regulation
CEI suggested five bad appliance regulations Congress should reject with the Congressional Review Act last November. Now, Congress has taken up the first…
Blog
‘Right to repair’ advocates likely to fail at the FTC
CEI submitted comments on a 53-page petition for rulemaking last week that asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to promulgate rules “to protect…
Blog
New CEI paper: Toward a US-Swiss Free Trade Agreement
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have gotten so large and unwieldy that they are almost impossible to pass. The result is lost economic opportunities for…
Blog
Biden admin’s particulate matter rule: premature, rejects sound science, will hurt American families
Only six months ago, the Biden administration rightfully declined to revise the ozone standards in part because it wanted to be able to…
Blog
Proof of the PROVE IT Act’s carbon tax agenda
A recent post explains how S. 1863, the PROVE IT Act, could empower narrow partisan majorities to enact carbon tariffs and taxes…
Blog
Trump proposes 60 percent China tariff
Donald Trump recently pledged to enact a 60 percent tariff against China if he becomes president again. His latest comments indicate, “Maybe it’s…
News Release
Report: A US-Switzerland Trade Agreement could be Swift, Beneficial, and Influential
The US and Switzerland could swiftly forge a trade agreement to greatly benefit the people of both countries and, equally as important, lead the…
Study
Toward a US-Swiss Trade Agreement
This paper examines the benefits and challenges of a potential free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and Switzerland. Such an agreement would…
Blog
Attention regulators: Be on the lookout for the ALERT Act
It has been almost a quarter-century since the federal government performed an assessment of the aggregate costs of regulation of regulatory intervention. Late last…
E&E News
These industries pitched Chevron’s demise to a pro-business Supreme Court
CEI’s Devin Watkins is cited in E&E News on the Chevron’s doctrine’s modern-day role in business: While larger companies have resources to influence…
Blog
Charlotte-area police departments are rolling in forfeiture funds
I’ve always loved William Blake’s poem “Auguries of Innocence,” which begins by asking the reader “To see a World in a Grain of…
News Release
House Oversight and Accountability Committee advances pro-transparency ALERT Act
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee today advanced H.R. 262, the All Economic Regulations are Transparent (ALERT) Act sponsored by Rep. Bob Good…