Blog
Why Is the Chicago Tribune in Bed with T Boone Pickens?
Remove the rhetoric, and T Boone's plan is quite simple. He wants the government to (1) force taxpayers to subsidize his wind power; (2) force…
Blog
Your Loss Is My Gain, Sucker!
I am being enriched by a vast expansion of government that will impoverish you and your family, and shrink the size of the economy in…
Newsletter
FDA’s Death Toll, Online Gambling and Dangerous Treaties
The Food and Drug Administration restricts production of an approved drug to treat a degenerative and often fatal muscle disorder. Online gambling operators await action…
Citation
Protesting Against Thousands at a Global Warming Rally
Study
Black Box Panic
How the FDA’s Bad Science Leads to More Teen Suicides…
Letters
Proposed Taxes on Reinsurance Will Hurt Consumers
Full Document Available in PDF Additional taxes on reinsurance transactions would wreak havoc with…
Blog
Ironic Snowfall for Resource-Rich Greenies
Environmentalists characterize themselves as petite Davids battling gargantuan corporate Goliaths in order to grab media attention. But hundreds of green activists demonstrated today to raise…
Blog
CEI stages “Celebrate Coal” counter-rally on Capitol Hill today
Despite the fact that the DC area was just clobbered with snow last night and this morning, hundreds of left-wing environmentalists descended on Capitol Hill…
Blog
Will the “food police” be nationalized?
In this bizarre Washington world, it can’t possibly be true, but it is: a top staffer at the lobbying organization often pejoratively referred…
Blog
“Sanity is not statistical”
Blog
GM Volt may not be cost-effective for consumers, study says
A study by Carnegie Mellon finds that the Chevy Volt, GM’s rechargeable battery-driven car designed to go 40 miles on electricity, is “not cost effective in any scenario,” Bloomberg…
Blog
DC on the School Reform Front Lines, Again
Today’s Washington Post features an editorial that strongly criticizes Congressional Democrats’ rush to kill the District of Columbia’s school voucher program, which enjoys bipartisan…
Blog
What Does Norway’s Net Neutrality Mean for the U.S.?
Hopefully nothing. But international policy has a way of making waves on our shores; sort of a “Look what they’re doing in Europe, we should…
Blog
Saving Us from Ourselves=lolprez
Blog
Obama Administration’s trade agenda released
According to President Obama’s 2009 Trade Policy Agenda, trade policy in his Administration will be used to promote “social accountability” and make…
Blog
Alarmism Has Consequences
In a magnificent display of self-delusion, the green movement is holding a demonstration at the Capitol’s power plant today to protest the continued use of…
Newsletter
Toilet Papers Wars, New Powers for the EPA and Bottled Water Hypocrisy
Environmental groups attack the use of soft, comfortable toilet paper. President Obama proposes a 34% increase in the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency. Cities…
Citation
Counter Protesting Against Anti-Coal Envionrmentalist
Op-Eds
A Tax to Weaken America
President Obama said last Thursday that he would not cut spending “on investments that will make America stronger.” He really meant that…
Citation
AIG Price Tag: $1,400 Per Taxpayer Family
News Release
Think Tank Questions Revised AIG Bailout
Early this morning, federal regulators and AIG officials announced revised terms for the bailout of the now-government-controlled insurance giants. The terms ease AIG’s obligations in…
News Release
Pro-Energy Rally Today in Washington, D.C.
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News Release
Free Market Think Tank Blasts My Safe Florida Home Termination
Contact: Eli Lehrer 202-615-0586 Christian R. Cámara 305-608-4300 Free Market Think Tank Blasts My Safe Florida Home Termination A rare government program worth saving…
Standpoint
The Anti-Green Ecologist
James Lovelock is a creative scientist and inventor, a visionary thinker, and a fascinating individual. Not the least remarkable thing about him is…
Wall Street Journal
How to Kick Our Oil Addiction Despite Plunging Oil Prices
DIAGNOSIS: Conserving energy and improving energy efficiency are good things insofar as they contribute to economic efficiency. But I am concerned that much of the…
Blog
Soft Toilet Paper: Mankind’s Doom?
The NRDC's Allen Hershkowitz says that "People just don't understand that softness equals ecological destruction." I had to chuckle after reading that last sentence (it…
Blog
CEI at CPAC – Fred L. Smith, Jr.
CEI President Fred L. Smith, Jr. dropped by CPAC today to speak on a panel about government bailouts. He also made appearances on Radio Row…
Blog
GDP drops sharply — not a time to raise taxes
Blog
An open auction for price clarity?
In today’s Financial Times, Gillian Tett addresses the opaqueness of determining the “price” of collateralized debt obligations backed by mortgage…
Blog
Obama’s Corporate Environmental Income Tax
Tucked into the EPA budget proposal the Obama administration revealed yesterdays are plans to reinstate the Superfund taxes which expired in 1995 as a way…
Blog
Bottled Water Hypocrisy
Apparently, Mayor Newsom–one of the first lawmakers to condemn bottled water and bar government agencies from buying it–has a separate standard for himself! A partially…
Newsletter
Daily update for 02/27/09
Casino Affiliate Programs
U.S. Research Body Underlines Legality of Online Gambling
Casino Affiliate Programs
Mr. President, End this Farm Subsidy Boondoggle
Before taking office, President Barack Obama pledged to cut government waste: “We cannot sustain a system that bleeds billions of taxpayer dollars on programs…
Casino Intensity
A Competitive Enterprise Institute Study May Aid the Online Casino Industry
News Release
Celebrate Coal! Rally Announced for Monday
A rally to Celebrate Coal! and Keep Energy Affordable will be held in front of the Capitol Power Plant on Monday, March 2nd, from 1…
Blog
Myron Ebell on Obama’s Green Energy Plan
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8oWwGqU4XY 283 234]…
Blog
The Energy Tax Budget
“Not one dime,” said President Obama in his address to Congress, referring to how much extra tax people earning under $250,000 a year will have…
Blog
Wayne Crews Considers the Cost of Regulation
From RealClearMarkets.com: Removing burdensome regulations on businesses, both large and small, hasn’t figured much into the economic recovery program thus far. But alternatives to “porkulus 
Blog
lolprez Strikes Again
News Release
Tax Proposal Would Hurt American Consumers
Contact Eli Lehrer: (202) 615-0586 Tax Proposal Would Hurt American Consumers Affiliated Reinsurance Penalties Would Imperil…
Casino Intensity
It’s Time to Consider the Cost of Regulation
As President Obama took the podium Tuesday night, all minds were fixed on the economy. As expected, the President addressed the economy first, front…
Business Week
The Appointment of Cass Sunstein as OIRA Chief
Gambling Moments
Online Gambling In The US: LEGAL
USA Online Casinos
The Legality of US Online Gambling
CNN
The Appointment of Cass Sunstein as OIRA Chief
CNN discusses Obama's pick for the head of the Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs with Iain Murray. The gate was very friendly to business…
Blog
Green Scheme Is a Lobbyists’ Dream
Lobbyists love cap-and-trade because of its complexity. At every step of the process, there are myriad nooks and crannies into which they can stuff special…
Blog
Nobody Messes with The Dow
Last night a charismatic President Obama delivered a forceful speech to a joint session of Congress, promising that his plan “will rebuild, will recover, and…
Blog
Stars Come Out for House and Senate Hearings
The House and the Senate held competing A-list hearings on global warming on Wednesday at 10AM. Testifying before the Senate Environment and Public Works…
Blog
Obama Scores Zero on Econ 101
In his first address to Congress, President Obama said that the “stimulus” legislation and other short-term economic policies were necessary to prevent a decade-long…
Blog
Dambisa Moyo: Zambian Author Takes on Foreign Aid
The celebrity parade calling for more foreign aid to poor countries has become so ubiquitous — and accepted — these days that critiques of it…
Blog
SOTU watch: Farm programs
Ten words in the SOTU address last night could presage some modest reform of wasteful agricultural programs: “. . .end direct payments to large…
Rational Review
The Legality of Online Gambling
Blog
Obama’s Bankruptcy Math Has to be Wrong
President Obama claimed in his speech tonight: “For that same reason, we must also address the crushing cost of health care. “This is a cost…
American Spectator
The Doomsday Bias
In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama took a dig at his backward predecessor by promising to "restore science to its rightful…
Blog
Foreclosure and the ‘forgotten man’ in Obama’s SOTU speech
Perhaps with the popular reaction to Rick Santelli’s ‘tea party’, in which the CNBC commentator elicited cheers for saying that the thrifty should not…
Blog
Zero-Based Governing and Improving the State of the Union
Removing burdensome regulations on small business hasn’t figured much into the economic recovery program thus far. Too bad. Alternatives to “spendulus” and the “Bailout to…
Blog
SOTU Watch: New Labor Secretary
The Senate confirmed Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) as Secretary of Labor this afternoon. It will be worth watching whether President Obama acknowledges her confirmation…
Blog
SOTU Watch: Energy Prices & Hidden Taxes
While President Obama focuses on short-term economic recovery, he proposes long-term energy and global warming policies that will lead to economic decline. Federal subsidies for…
Blog
When it Comes to Climate Change, Errors Abound
“A Matter of Fact,” a new report from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, challenges the Washington Post to correct George F.
Blog
SOTU Watch: Energy Claims
The President might make various remarks relating to energy tonight. These are likely to center around grandiloquent claims as to the effectiveness of “green jobs”…
Blog
SOTU Watch: Card Check
In President Obama’s State of the Union speech tonight, one thing to watch for is mention of the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) —…
Blog
Despite lack of warming, alarmists predictably predict warming worse than predicted
As you may have heard, there has been no net warming of the planet since 2001, and no subsequent year was a warm as 1998…
Blog
More Behavorial Advertising Adventures
Back in January I wrote about several advertising industry trade associations coming together to impose self-regulation in an attempt to deter…
Blog
Coming Soon: A Predatory, Anti-Business Federal Trade Commission?
Even an economy in shambles shall not sway the elevation to Federal Trade Commission chairmanship of Jon Leibowitz, an interventionist-minded commissioner who, like all…
Blog
More on Environmental Policies and Protectionism
Marlo made three interesting arguments yesterday contending that cap-and-trade would generate protectionist outcomes. I want to add another, pervasive, yet oft-neglected reason.
Newsletter
Daily update for 02/24/09
President Obama will address the nation tonight in a non-State of the Union address, days after he announced a $75 billion mortgage “rescue” plan and his…
Zibb
CEI Naming Vermont Best, Florida Worst for State Insurance Regulation
Zibb
CEI Naming Vermont Best, Florida Worst for State Insurance Regulation
Zibb
Flood Insurance Plan To Get Extension
Zibb
Poker as a game of skill
Zibb
A House Appropriations Bill Calling for a Six-Month Flood Insurance Extension
News Release
Congress Poised to Extend Flawed Flood Insurance Program
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News Release
CEI Comment on Obama Address to Congress
CEI Comment on Obama Address to Congress Read Commentary on Economy, Energy, Environment, and More Washington, D.C.,…
Blog
Carney Takes on Stimulus on Liddy, Osorio Takes on Card Check
Today, I was on the G. Gordon Liddy Show, to discuss the current prospects of the misleadingly named Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which, as…
Blog
Next Internet Phenomena=lolprez
Blog
Is cap-and-trade inherently protectionist?
Yes, for three reasons. (1) Companies in carbon-constrained countries will demand carbon tariffs to “level the playing field” vis-a-vis firms in non-carbon constrained countries. (2)…
Blog
Will carbon market woes tilt U.S. pols towards carbon taxes, CAA regulation?
In today's Guardian, Juliana Glover reports that carbon permit prices in Europe's Emission Trading System (ETS) have crashed from €31 last summer to €8…
Blog
LibertyWeek 31: What in Dodd’s Name?
Blog
A Gamer Win For Parenting
If you’ve followed my posts here at OpenMarket.org or at my personal site, you’re well aware of the fact that I…
Blog
End Run to a Regulatory Morass
In today's DC Examiner, former CEI Warren Brooks Fellow Jeremy Lott and Energy Policy Analyst William Yeatman explain a round-about route to a regulatory nightmare—the…
Zibb
The Green Jobs Scam – And Confusion
With the massive $787-billion stimulus bill including provisions to encourage the creation of “green jobs,” Americans deserve an honest appraisal of how…
Zibb
Dems Cooling On Climate Change As Economic Pressures Escalate
DC Examiner
Green Glitterati High on California Scheming
President Barack Obama recently announced his first concrete environmental policy, and it was a doozy. Obama ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reconsider…
Blog
Top Ten Federal Rules to Jettison — According to Small Businesses
The Small Business Administration’s Regulatory Review and Reform initiative (r3) has a new compilation of rules that need reform, according to small businesses across…
Blog
Nationalizing the cars and bikes of rock collectors — Pending Omnibus land bill’s forfeiture provision has broad reach
At the same time there has been so much talk of government nationalization of troubled big banks, a bill quickly snaking through Congress would allow…
DC Examiner
The Release of Global Mining FInance
Blog
Gold is King Among Investors
Gold prices are skyrocketing—recently closing at over $1,000 an ounce, the highest in almost a year—while inflation fears continue rising and the dollar weakens. This…
Blog
TARP in Pictures
We've talked a lot about the TARP or Troubled Assets Relief Program over the past several months here on OpenMarket.org. But perhaps the entire…
Blog
More Grand Theft Common Sense
I used to think that the groups and individuals that sat around eagerly anticipating the launch of a new Grand Theft Auto (GTA) game were…
Blog
John Berlau on Obama’s Mortgage Rescue Plan
Blog
So What Does He Think of Cap & Trade?
Good news and bad news for drivers from federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The good news is: LaHood said he firmly opposes raising the…
Blog
Some Interests Are More Special Than Others
Blog
More protectionism on the horizon?
Good article today by Bloomberg columnist Michael Sesit, who lays out the protectionist actions many countries are taking in the midst of…
Newsletter
Obama’s Housing Plan, Privacy on Facebook and Fairness Doctrine 2.0
President Obama announces a $75 billion mortgage “rescue” plan. Changes to the terms of service on Facebook raise a ruckus among privacy activists. The White…
DC Examiner
The Auto Bailout We Need
GM and Chrysler have come back for more taxpayer money, which is exactly what everybody warned would happen when the first bailout was granted…
Blog
The Auto Bailout We Need
The automakers have come back for more taxpayer money, which is exactly what we warned would happen when the first bailout was granted…
Blog
UBS agrees to deal with the devil
I revoke my previous apology to the Swiss, and reiterate my previous disapproval. As evidenced by the…
Blog
CNBC’s Rick Santelli on Obama’s Mortgage Plan
Blog
To Know Card Check is to Hate it
A recent survey of 1,000 likely voters, conducted in January by the consultancy McLaughlin & Associates, finds an overwhelling majority opposed to the so-called…