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From Poor and Sick to Healthy and Rich
I'm always impressed with creative, compelling ways to use data to tell a story. And this story is one of the most important in human…
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Federal Register Hits 75,000 Pages
At its current 327-page per day pace, the 2010 Federal Register would be 81,560 unadjusted pages long.
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Do You Want the IRS Doing Your Taxes?
The income tax is a pain in the neck. The obvious solution is the simplify the 70,000-page tax code. But some are proposing to have…
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CEI Podcast — November 30, 2010: Food Safety, Washington-Style
CEI Senior Fellow Greg Conko looks at the major provisions of the food safety bill that the Senate is voting on today.
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The War on Terror, the TSA, and Useful Partisans
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TSA Sexual Harassment: Disappointing, but Not Surprising
Woman: TSA Agents Singled Me Out For My Breasts…
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TSA Exempts Politicians from Body Scans and Pat-Downs
Don't like dealing with the TSA's body scanners or pat-downs? Consider getting into politics.
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TSA Roundup
The Thanksgiving travel rush is officially underway.
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CEI Podcast — November 23, 2010: The Crusade Against Alcohol Energy Drinks
Baylen Linnekin, author of the recent CEI On Point "Extreme Refreshment Crackdown: The FDA’s Misguided Campaign Against Alcohol Energy Drinks" looks at the recent push…
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Regulation of the Day 160: Sleeping in Public
In Roselle Park, New Jersey, it is against the law to fall asleep in public.
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Regulation of the Day 159: Playing Chess
"A squad of cops in bulletproof vests" arrested seven men for playing chess in a New York City park.
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Joe Biden vs. Adam Smith
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TSA’s John Pistole Offers to Probe Senators: Shouldn’t He Buy Them Dinner First?
TSA chief John Pistole offered to give enhanced pat-downs to senators at a hearing today on TSA's new screening policies.
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The Power of Incumbency: Charlie Rangel Edition
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Pat-Downs or Full-Body Imaging? TSA Airport Security Backlash
The TSA has crossed a line. Its new security procedures require employees to either touch passengers’ genitals or take pictures of them. The public backlash…
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CEI Podcast — November 15, 2010: Free Speech and Video Games
Associate Director of Technology Studies Ryan Radia gives his take on a Supreme Court case concerning California’s ban of violent video game sales to minors.
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Debunking the Abner Doubleday Myth: Baseball as Spontaneous Order
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12 Ridiculous Regulations
In Texas, computer repair technicians are required to get a private investigator's license, plus more.
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CEI Podcast – November 11, 2010: Taxing New IRS Regulations
Fellow in Regulatory Studies Ryan Young explains how an IRS proposal for mandatory certification of tax preparers would hurt consumers and taxpayers.
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Joe Biden’s Weak Case for Government Meddling
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The Washington Version of Spending Cuts
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Adam Smith on Lotteries
I didn’t know there were state-run lotteries in 1776, but apparently there were, because Adam Smith explains what a bad deal they are in The…
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Regulation of the Day 158: Preparing Taxes
The IRS wants to require all tax preparers to register with them, pass an exam, and take continuing education classes.
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Regulation of the Day 157: Unlicensed Barbering
In Orange County, Florida, barbering without a license is illegal. The regulation is being enforced with armed raids.
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Regulation of the Day 156: Happy Meals
With an 8-3 vote, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors banned the greatest menace facing it or any other city: happy meals.
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CEI Podcast: November 4, 2010 — Election Dissection
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An Optimistic Take on the Election
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Why I Didn’t Vote This Year
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Halloween Roundup
Silly string forbidden in Hollywood on Halloween, man arrested for wearing a mask, plus more.
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Regulation of the Day 155: Miniskirts
Police officers would be tasked with paying close attention to women’s hemlines; no doubt many already do. Women who catch an officer’s eye could be…
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The Rise of Negative Campaigning?
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2010’s Record Election Spending Is Surprisingly Small
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The Nobel Case for Immigration
In today's American Spectator, my colleague Alex Nowrasteh and I make the case for expanding skilled immigration.
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Regulation of the Day 154: Potatoes in School Lunches
The children are not pleased. One child told the Associated Press, "That would be so not cool. I love tater tots."…
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New CEI Podcast — October 25, 2010: Regulating Every Room
CEI's Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies Ben Lieberman explains how new energy regulations affect every room in your house, from the basement to the bathroom…
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New CEI Podcast — October 21, 2010: Relic of Prohibition
CEI Director of Insurance Studies Michelle Minton analyzes proposals to privatize Virginia's liquor stores.
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The East German Immigration Model
A U.S. Senate candidate in Alaska thinks that the U.S. should follow East Germany's example when it comes to immigration.
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Regulation of the Day 153: Pentagon Cybersecurity
The military’s cybersecurity experts are governed by 193 documents. They are all conveniently listed in a chart. It is two feet long.
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CEI Podcast — October 14, 2010: Antitrust Follies and Regulatory Reform
CEI Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews talks about why antitrust actually hurts competition, and offers some ideas for regulatory reform.
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Why Trade and War Are Different
Over at the American Spectator's AmspecBlog, I highlight why real wars and trade wars are very, very different…
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Foreign Money is Not the Problem
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Regulation of the Day 152: Locking Your Car Door
The government of Bucks County, Pennsylvania plans to issue $25 fines to people who forget to lock their cars.
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First, Try Getting the Little Things Right
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Misplaced Ire
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CEI Podcast – October 7, 2010: Trade, Jobs, and Korea
CEI Adjunct Fellow Fran Smith talks about the EU-Korea free trade agreement that takes effect next year, and why the US-Korea FTA stalled, to the…
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Timothy Geithner, Political Strategist
The TARP bank bailout program polls poorly. Timothy Geithner, in recent remarks, subtly reminded voters that the hated bailouts were originally a Republican proposal. It's…
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Skilled Immigrants: More, Please
For every H-1B position requested, U.S. technology firms increase their employment by five workers. The government's artificial limit on skilled immigration is prolonging the recession.
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The 10:10 Project and Zeno’s Paradox
Annual 10 percent reductions would move emissions asymptotically towards zero. That's a fancy way of saying they never actually get there.
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Mises on Political Parties
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CEI Podcast – September 30, 2010: William F. Buckley
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Regulation of the Day 151: Water Heaters
The EPA recommends setting your water heater to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. But OSHA recommends setting it to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Why the difference?…
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CEI Podcast – September 23, 2010: The Frankenfish Myth
CEI Senior Fellow Greg Conko, author of The Frankenfood Myth, talks about the promise and imagined peril of genetically modified salmon.
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Study: Regulations Cost $1.75 Trillion in 2008
State and local regulations, of course, cost extra.
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Regulation of the Day 150: Toy Guns
Samuel Burgos is 8 years old. One day he brought a toy gun to school in his backpack. That got him expelled from his Miami…
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New CEI Podcast: Creating High-Tech Jobs
Ryan Radia, CEI's Associate Director of Technology Studies, talks about obstacles and opportunities for job creation in the high-tech sector.
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Stimulus Roundup
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Clearing the Way for High-Tech Jobs
Over at RealClearMarkets.c0m, my colleague Ryan Radia offer some ideas for how to create more high-tech jobs. Our main points:…
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One Way to Create High-Tech Jobs
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Shifting the Burden of Explanation
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Study: Cash for Clunkers Didn’t Work
Cash for clunkers didn't change HOW MUCH people spent. It only changed WHEN they spent.
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CEI Podcast: Alex Nowrasteh on Birthright Citizenship
In the latest CEI Podcast, Alex Nowrasteh discusses birthright citizenship.
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Regulation of the Day Update: Ladies’ Night Bar Specials
Attorney Roy Den Hollander think ladies' nights are unconstitutional. So he sued several bars.
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Speaking Truth to Power Rarely Works
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Expensive Jobs
Stimulus spending costs $221,428.57 per job saved or created. Startlingly inefficient.
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Money for Nothing
A Virginia man collected 12 years of salary despite never showing up to his government job.
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Regulation of the Day 149: Sliced Bagels
In New York State, sliced bagels cost 8 cents more than unsliced bagels.
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When TSA Agents Attack
For most people, the TSA is merely an annoyance. For Kathy Parker, it was something far more serious.
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Regulation of the Day 148: Cutting Grass in Cemeteries
In the world of regulation, no good deed goes unpunished.
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Political Pessimism, Human Optimism
If you're despairing over the state of the world, the data are a wonderful cure for pessimism.
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Regulation of the Day 147: Breathing Fire
Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern in Herndon, Virginia has fire-breathing bartenders. Two of them are facing 45 years in prison for fire code violations.
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Federal Register Hits 50,000 Pages
And it's on pace to hit a near-record 80,447 pages.
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You Can’t Make This Up
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Regulation of the Day 146: Airplane Child Seats
The NTSB wants to throw away 50 lives to save an estimated 1 or 2 lives.
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Voting the Bums Back In
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Why Government Layoffs Tripled in June
It wasn't because of spending cuts.
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Justice Kagan, Please Be a Judicial Activist
Over at the Daily Caller, I explain why newly-minted Justice Kagan should be a judicial activist -- but not in the way most people use…
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Regulation of the Day 145: Unregistered Chariots
King Tut's chariot is now on exhibit in New York, but not without incident. Officials demanded to see its VIN before Allowing it in the…
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Understanding the Health Care System
Check out this flow chart of what the health care system will look like once Obamacare is implemented.
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Bill to Regulate Political Speech Fails
It was mostly Democrats who favored the DISCLOSE Act. But Republicans are no heroes on this issue. Don't believe their posturing.
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Regulation of the Day 144: Underage Senior Citizens
Bob Russ is 66 years old. He was denied entry to the Oregon Brewer’s Festival because he lacked a valid photo ID to prove he…
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Economists vs. Economics
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Federal Register Hits 40,000 Pages
The Federal Register’s page growth has been accelerating as the year has progressed. It is currently on pace for 76,536 pages.
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Responding to Media Matters
This ad hominem attack deserves a rebuttal. The Daily Caller was kind enough to run mine this morning. I hope you will take a few…
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Cell Phones Don’t Cause Cancer
Over at the Daily Caller, I debunk the fear that long-term cell phone use can cause brain tumors.
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Unintended Consequences of Unemployment Benefits
This letter of mine ran in today's New York Times in response to Paul Krugman's July 4 column.
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Friday Regulation Roundup
If you have ever been in a duel, you are ineligible to vote in Mississippi, plus more.
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Making a Difference – A Very Small Difference
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The Rahn Curve
A little government can do a lot of good. A lot of government can do little good.
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140 New Regulations in Florida
New labeling rules for horse meat intended for human consumption, plus more.
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Regulation of the Day 143: Your Bedtime
In Japan, your bedtime is official government business.
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Friday Regulation Roundup
Arizona spends $1,250,000 to save 250 squirrels, plus more.
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Cell Phone Cancer Scare Refuses to Die
Some people are scared that cell phones cause brain tumors. There are enough of these bedwetters that San Francisco just passed a new law requiring…
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Regulation of the Day 142: Ladies’ Night
Ladies’ night bar specials are illegal in Minnesota. They are unfair gender discrimination, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
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Regulation of the Day 141: Mandatory Fire Sprinklers
Politicians love it when housing prices go up. That's why Cumberland, Maryland is mulling requiring all new homes to install fire sprinkler systems. Cost: $3,000-$9,000…
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Regulation of the Day 140: Plastic
“Plastics are the future,” a pushy relative told a young Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate. Was he giving career advice -- or a warning?…
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Explaining Free Trade in Under Three Minutes
Watch Tom Palmer explain free trade in under three minutes.
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Friday Regulation Roundup
$300,000 of stimulus money to pay for floating toilets, plus more.
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Regulation of the Day 139: Mailing Fake Grenades
In which a new regulation actually makes some sense.
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Regulation of the Day 138: Dwile Flonking
H.L. Mencken defined Puritanism as “The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” He may as well have been talking about regulators.
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