![Major Auto Companies Auto Dealers Back Trump Fuel Economy Rule](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/City-traffic-GettyImages-966404998-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Major Auto Companies Auto Dealers Back Trump Fuel Economy Rule
On October 29, Marlo Lewis testified before the House Oversight Environment Subcommittee on the Trump administration’s Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles rule. As he noted,…
![Spooky Halloween Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Halloween-costumes-GettyImages-1166217450-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Spooky Halloween Regulations
Halloween is this week. That means costumes, spooky decorations, trick-or-treating, and pumpkin spice everything. The Code of Federal Regulations contains several rules to keep everything…
![Just in Time for Halloween: Climate Scares Debunked](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Jack-O-Lantern-GettyImages-1034198064-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Just in Time for Halloween: Climate Scares Debunked
Sharing scary stories is Halloween tradition and this time of the year reminds us of some folks who try to strike fear in the hearts…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/1920px-Cuba_location_map.svg_-578x324-c-default.png)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
The Washington Nationals made it to the World Series, and the White House canceled some of its newspaper subscriptions. Meanwhile, rulemaking agencies published new regulations…
![VIDEO: How to Build a Political System to Protect Liberty](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/kims-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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VIDEO: How to Build a Political System to Protect Liberty
Our friends at Learn Liberty have started releasing new videos again, and we couldn’t be more excited. One of the most recent, “3 Different Ways…
![Trump Administration Challenges Constitutionality of California Climate Pacts](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ThinkstockPhotos-179318921_8-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Trump Administration Challenges Constitutionality of California Climate Pacts
Just when I thought the Trump administration could not get any bolder in challenging California’s self-anointed power to determine national climate policy, the Department of…
![CEI Report: Universities Misuse Federal Children’s Environmental Health Grants to Pursue Political Agenda](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Experiment-pexels_4-578x324-c-default.jpeg)
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CEI Report: Universities Misuse Federal Children’s Environmental Health Grants to Pursue Political Agenda
For more than two decades the federal government has funded a number of “children’s environmental health centers.” Since they are housed in universities, you might…
![Celebrate Consumer Finance Law Modernization](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/atm_ThinkstockPhotos-498148654_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Celebrate Consumer Finance Law Modernization
Earlier this month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it will create a taskforce to “harmonize and modernize federal consumer financial laws.” The Taskforce…
![Deep State Guide to Resisting Trump’s Executive Orders on Guidance Document Abuse](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/paperwork_ThinkstockPhotos-57571085_6-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Deep State Guide to Resisting Trump’s Executive Orders on Guidance Document Abuse
Competitive Enterprise Institute founder and “despairing optimist” Fred L. Smith, Jr. lamented to me once: “It’s so hard to centrally plan deregulation!”…
![Cautiously Optimistic about Facebook’s New Approach to Speech](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GettyImages-832125010_2-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Cautiously Optimistic about Facebook’s New Approach to Speech
It seems increasingly the case that there is a lot more to like about what Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has to say than not. His…
![House Panel Holds Hearing to Bash Exxon](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GettyImages-509843570-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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House Panel Holds Hearing to Bash Exxon
The House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties today held a hearing to examine “the oil industry’s efforts to suppress the truth about climate…
![West Antarctic Ice Sheet Growing As Southern Ocean Warms Slightly](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/antartica2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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West Antarctic Ice Sheet Growing As Southern Ocean Warms Slightly
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is growing, but I bet you didn’t read about it in the news.
![Stop State Government Abuse of Clean Water Act](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/forest_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Stop State Government Abuse of Clean Water Act
Today the Competitive Enterprise Institute led a coalition letter in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule, “Updating Regulations on Water Quality Certification.” The rule would…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cybermonday_ThinkstockPhotos-512349742_4-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Last week’s big stories included a thickening impeachment plot, Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s resignation, and a letter written to the president of Turkey. In a…
![VIDEO: How Does the Trade War Hurt You?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/traderscreencap-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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VIDEO: How Does the Trade War Hurt You?
Our friends over at the Cato Institute are known for their excellent free-market analysis, in particular on hot button issues like trade. They recently released…
![Repeal of Trump Power Plant Rule Fails in Senate](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GettyImages-472633676_4-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Repeal of Trump Power Plant Rule Fails in Senate
The U.S. Senate today defeated by 53-41 a Democrat-sponsored Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval that aims to overturn the Trump administration’s Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule,…
![United States, Carbon Tax Laggard?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/oil-rig-578x324-c-default.png)
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United States, Carbon Tax Laggard?
The United States “lags” other nations’ use of carbon taxes, ClimateWire (subscription required) reports. Specifically, the United States ranks 40th out of 44 countries in…
![Are Hurricanes Becoming Blow-Hards?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/cold-front-warm-front-hurricane-felix-76969_0-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpeg)
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Are Hurricanes Becoming Blow-Hards?
Last month, as Tropical Storm Imelda slowly dissipated over south Texas, creating yet another Texas-sized flood, I read an article in Business Insider making the…
![In Praise of Pro-Consumer Tenure of Finance Regulator Kraninger](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GettyImages-656245290-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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In Praise of Pro-Consumer Tenure of Finance Regulator Kraninger
As she prepares to give her semi-annual testimony to Congress this week—on Wednesday to the House Financial Services Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and on Thursday…
![CEI Leads Coalition Letter Supporting Airport Financing Reform](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ThinkstockPhotos-160518686_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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CEI Leads Coalition Letter Supporting Airport Financing Reform
Today CEI led a coalition letter in support of H.R. 3791, the “Investing in America: Rebuilding America’s Airport Infrastructure Act,” the bipartisan airport financing reform legislation…
![Killing Us with Kindness: Democrats’ War on Vaping Costs Lives](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/toe-tag-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Killing Us with Kindness: Democrats’ War on Vaping Costs Lives
Liberals are supposed to the ones whose hearts “bleed” with concern for others’ welfare. That’s why modern liberals generally reject an abstinence-only approach to regulation.
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bicycle-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
The latest Mad Libs-style political feud involves the NBA, the television cartoon South Park, and the Chinese government. President Trump also issued a pair of…
![California Utility Cuts Power to Avoid Fires Caused by Downed Power Lines](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Screen-Shot-2019-10-16-at-3.46.05-PM-578x324-c-default.png)
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California Utility Cuts Power to Avoid Fires Caused by Downed Power Lines
Pacific Gas and Electric has intentionally turned off electricity to up to two million people in parts of northern California for hours and days at…
![President Trump Signs Executive Orders to Improve Use of Guidance Documents](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/the-White-House-pixabay-2_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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President Trump Signs Executive Orders to Improve Use of Guidance Documents
President Donald J. Trump on October 9th signed two executive orders (EOs) intended to improve and limit the use of guidance documents. This is good,…
![‘Art of the Deal’ Meets Renewable Fuel Standard](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ThinkstockPhotos-506164764_0-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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‘Art of the Deal’ Meets Renewable Fuel Standard
It’s the ultimate dealmaker versus the ultimate dealmaking challenge. President Trump has again sought changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that he hopes both…
![More Shields and Fewer Swords in Realm of Federal Regulation](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ThinkstockPhotos-114161823_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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More Shields and Fewer Swords in Realm of Federal Regulation
Yesterday the New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) held a fascinating event on one of their marquee cases, Baldwin v. United States (read more in my…
![Software Solutions for Regulatory Reform?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Temp-Workers-pixabay_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Software Solutions for Regulatory Reform?
On Friday, the C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State held a fascinating conference, “The Administration of Democracy,” which covered issues…
![Labor Relations Chief Corrects Record on ‘Joint Employer’ Rule](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/strike_ThinkstockPhotos-91644706_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Labor Relations Chief Corrects Record on ‘Joint Employer’ Rule
Chairman John Ring delivered the latest salvo in response to the manufactured “scandal” at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Democrats, with help from the…
![Costs of Economic Distortions Caused by ‘Ordinary’ Federal Spending, Subsidies, and Stimulus](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/money-finance-bills-bank-notes-pexels-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Costs of Economic Distortions Caused by ‘Ordinary’ Federal Spending, Subsidies, and Stimulus
While routine ground-level federal spending is less glamorous than interventionist national agendas, socialization of properties and resources, or economic “stimulus” and “big science” crusades, the…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Paper-stacks-GettyImages-936996072-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Non-impeachment news involved a major court ruling on net neutrality, plus a new tariff. This year’s Federal Register is on pace to surpass last year’s…
![Industry and Nonprofit Groups Urge Senate Support for ‘Clean’ Energy and Climate Bills](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GettyImages-93907047-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Industry and Nonprofit Groups Urge Senate Support for ‘Clean’ Energy and Climate Bills
A number of industry trade associations plus some non-profit groups sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on…
![New $7.5 Billion Tariffs against European Union](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/plane-1030900_960_720-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New $7.5 Billion Tariffs against European Union
The Trump administration has announced tariffs on $7.5 billion of goods from the European Union. This time, it is being done with the World Trade…
![Costs of Government Steering by Direct Ownership or Control of Resources](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/hike-air-pixabay_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Costs of Government Steering by Direct Ownership or Control of Resources
If one thinks government ought to run a sector of the economy (single-payer health care, education, retirement, energy), then almost by definition that individual would…
![Vast Regulatory Costs of Top-Down National Plans, Agendas, and Legislative Schemes](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/paperwork_ThinkstockPhotos-57571085_5-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Vast Regulatory Costs of Top-Down National Plans, Agendas, and Legislative Schemes
If government steers in some societal, industrial, or sector-specific endeavor via top-down national plans, agendas, or legislative schemes, it can generate ongoing regulatory costs even…
![Priorities for Department of Labor’s New Secretary](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/employees_ThinkstockPhotos-512165336_16-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Priorities for Department of Labor’s New Secretary
On September 30th, Eugene Scalia was sworn in as the 28th Secretary of Labor. Last week, the Senate confirmed Scalia on a 53-44 vote. With…
![New Study: Minimum Wages Have Tradeoffs](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/College-Students-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New Study: Minimum Wages Have Tradeoffs
Congress nearly increased the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour this year. Though the Raise the Wage Act is unlikely to pass…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Future-of-Cell-Tech-Thinkstock_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Congress is out of session for the next two weeks, and the impeachment investigation will likely dominate headlines for some time to come. Meanwhile, the…
![Environmental Protection Agency to California: Clean up Your Act](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/drops-of-water-pixabay_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Environmental Protection Agency to California: Clean up Your Act
In two separate actions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week put California on notice that the state is violating federal air and water…
![VIDEO: Life Is Getting Better](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/STOSSEL_OPTIMISM-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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VIDEO: Life Is Getting Better
Despite prominent headlines to the contrary, the world is not actually falling apart. As our friends at places like Human Progress tirelessly work to remind…
![New Civil Liberties Alliance Fighting for Constitutional Limits on Government Power](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ThinkstockPhotos-451264349_0-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New Civil Liberties Alliance Fighting for Constitutional Limits on Government Power
Thanks to the New Civil Liberties Alliance for hosting a great event this week, during which their staff attorneys recounted the status of some of…
![Federal Highway Administration to Rescind Outdated Patent Rules](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Highway-driving-GettyImages-1017908786-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Federal Highway Administration to Rescind Outdated Patent Rules
The Federal Highway Administration announced it will rescind its World War I-era regulation governing the use of patented and proprietary materials in federal-aid highway projects.
![Like Socialism, Financial Transaction Tax Doomed to Fail](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GettyImages-490771517_1-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Like Socialism, Financial Transaction Tax Doomed to Fail
In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith coins the four maxims of taxation: fairness, certainty, convenience, and efficiency. Smith’s maxims are used as a litmus…
![Feds: Gambling Fine, But Investing Too Risky](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Poker_-Morgue-file-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Feds: Gambling Fine, But Investing Too Risky
“In the risk reform debate, as in so many political debates, logic is often for losers.” So lamented Competitive Enterprise Institute founder and president emeritus…
![Antitrust Astroturf Activism](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/antitrust-laptops-578x324-c-default.png)
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Antitrust Astroturf Activism
Not too long ago, I pointed out that antitrust regulation is often gamed by special interests and rent-seekers. A recent story in The Wall Street…
![Protect Consumers, But Let Debt Collectors Do Their Jobs](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/payingbills_ThinkstockPhotos-smaller_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Protect Consumers, But Let Debt Collectors Do Their Jobs
Debt collector seem to be the occupation everyone loves to hate, but without them businesses large and small—from banks to gyms to doctor’s offices—could not serve…
![Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization: Lesson in Institutional Design](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/shipping-containers-1150062_960_720_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization: Lesson in Institutional Design
For all its flaws, the Export-Import Bank’s charter gets an important thing right: the agency must be reauthorized every few years, or it will close.
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GettyImages-1018442606-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
The House passed a continuing resolution to avoid a federal shutdown until November 21st. The Senate will likely follow suit this week. The 2019 Federal…
![Progressive States Petition Court to Declare Trump Pre-emption Rule Unlawful](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/court-steps-pixabay-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Progressive States Petition Court to Declare Trump Pre-emption Rule Unlawful
A California-led coalition of 24 states and three cities today petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to declare unlawful the Trump administration’s One National Program…
![VIDEO: Prosperity Is More Than Wages](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cartofgoods-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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VIDEO: Prosperity Is More Than Wages
In a new video for the PolicyEd channel, economist Russ Roberts takes on the popular—though misleading—narrative that ordinary working Americans haven’t made any real economic…
![Export-Import Bank Fight Not Over Yet](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Congress_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Export-Import Bank Fight Not Over Yet
The Export-Import Bank’s charter is currently set to expire on September 30. If authorization lapses, the agency will shut down. On Thursday, the House passed…
![Trump Administration Terminates California’s Unlawful Power over Auto Industry](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bmw-1712736_960_720_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Trump Administration Terminates California’s Unlawful Power over Auto Industry
Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the first step towards finalizing…
![Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization: Major Victory against Cronyism, Despite Setback](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/dock-441989_960_720_5-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization: Major Victory against Cronyism, Despite Setback
Nobel laureate economist Ronald Coase wrote in his 1975 essay “Economists and Public Policy” that “An economist who, by his efforts, is able to postpone…
![In Its Stores, Walmart Behaves the Same Way Amazon Does and No One Cares](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Store-GettyImages-985955122-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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In Its Stores, Walmart Behaves the Same Way Amazon Does and No One Cares
This week, The Wall Street Journal published an exclusive story detailing how Amazon uses its algorithms to prioritize its brands and products that are more…
![Wrong Again: 50 Years of Failed Eco-pocalyptic Predictions](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GettyImages-824845572-2-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Wrong Again: 50 Years of Failed Eco-pocalyptic Predictions
Modern doomsayers have been predicting climate and environmental disaster since the 1960s. They continue to do so today. None of the apocalyptic predictions with due…
![UPDATE: Big Picture in ‘Vaping-Linked’ Lung Poisonings](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Vapes-GettyImages-928069160_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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UPDATE: Big Picture in ‘Vaping-Linked’ Lung Poisonings
Over the last three months, the news has been filled with stories of people falling ill from a mystery lung ailment supposedly caused by vaping.
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Deficit-GettyImages-1062733970-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Congress returned from recess, the Democratic presidential candidates had a debate, and the 2019 federal deficit topped $1 trillion with a month left to go…
![Greenpeace Disrupters Arrested for Shutting Down Houston Ship Channel](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/portshippingcontainers_ThinkstockPhotos-77747233_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Greenpeace Disrupters Arrested for Shutting Down Houston Ship Channel
Ahead of the September 12th Democratic presidential primary debate, activists from the group Greenpeace were arrested after pulling a stunt that briefly held Houston commuters hostage…
![Policy Circle 4th Annual Leadership Summit Coming to Chicago](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/policycircle-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Policy Circle 4th Annual Leadership Summit Coming to Chicago
There are a lot of useful conferences, meetings, and conventions that fill our calendars, and one that we're especially looking forward to this year is the Policy Circle’s…
![Automaker Antitrust Investigation Wrong Way to Fight Cartels](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Auto-plant-GettyImages-1090466806-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Automaker Antitrust Investigation Wrong Way to Fight Cartels
Cartels need government support because they contain the seeds of their own destruction. Self-interested companies acting selfishly naturally undo their own cartels.
![Lead State in Big Tech Antitrust Suit Misleadingly Inflates Google’s Size](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Computer-keyboard-GettyImages-1091348950-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Lead State in Big Tech Antitrust Suit Misleadingly Inflates Google’s Size
In The Wall Street Journal today, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is spearheading a multistate antitrust investigation into Google, made an egregious error.
![Unleash Markets to Reduce Traffic Congestion](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/scrib_TI-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Unleash Markets to Reduce Traffic Congestion
Congestion is a persistent and growing problem facing America’s road networks. The challenge facing policy makers is how to address this growing problem. Given that…
![Getting My Bearings in Taipei: Personally and Politically](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Lassman2-Taipei-2019-cr-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Getting My Bearings in Taipei: Personally and Politically
Key Insight of the Day: While not every aspect of life in Taiwan is dominated by the relationship with the People’s Republic of China, every…
![California to Eliminate Independent Work](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pexels-photo-296881-578x324-c-default.jpeg)
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California to Eliminate Independent Work
Late Tuesday evening, the California legislature passed controversial legislation that would codify a state Supreme Court decision, which adopted a flawed test that effectively prohibits…
![Reform Proposal Addresses Cronyism in Government-Backed Mortgages](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bank_creditunion_ThinkstockPhotos-web-version-537645186_7-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Reform Proposal Addresses Cronyism in Government-Backed Mortgages
Earlier this year, the Trump administration issued an executive memorandum directing the Department of the Treasury to “develop a plan for administrative and legislative reforms” of…
![Sharing Insights and Observations from the Road: A Travelogue](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Lassman3-Taipei-2019-cr-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Sharing Insights and Observations from the Road: A Travelogue
This week I’m in Taiwan as a part of a delegation of free-market trade experts. I’ll write short posts for the Competitive Enterprise Institute team…
![Unknown Societal Costs of Imposing Regulation Based on Secret (or Creatively Leveraged) Data](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ThinkstockPhotos-521304774_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Unknown Societal Costs of Imposing Regulation Based on Secret (or Creatively Leveraged) Data
From the food pyramid and dietary guidelines, to vaping policies, to the Progressive zeal for eugenics, humility-challenged administrative experts can be mistaken, can mislead, or…
![Trump Administration Pushes Back on California’s Fuel Economy Scheming](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/California-Flag-US-State-Metal-XL_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Trump Administration Pushes Back on California’s Fuel Economy Scheming
Since at least March 2018, the Trump administration and the state of California have been engaged in a legal and political struggle over the stringency…
![Study on Export-Import Bank: Repeal Is Best, Other Reforms Can Help](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/dock-441989_960_720_4-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Study on Export-Import Bank: Repeal Is Best, Other Reforms Can Help
The Export-Import Bank is up for reauthorization by September 30. It should be shut down, as I’ve pointed out before, but reauthorization will almost certainly…
![Gene Editing Can Improve Health Outcomes for the Poor](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/science-1336663_960_720_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Gene Editing Can Improve Health Outcomes for the Poor
Gene editing, specifically somatic gene therapy, cures maladies with traceable genetic origins. This revolutionary science is rapidly advancing, but not without major setbacks. Regulations designed…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cpp_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Contrary to my earlier prediction, the number of new regulations this year did not pass 2,000 last week, ending the four-day week at 1,991. Meanwhile,…
![CNN Hosts Seven-Hour ‘Climate Crisis Town Hall’ with Democratic Presidential Candidates](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pipeline_0-578x324-c-default.png)
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CNN Hosts Seven-Hour ‘Climate Crisis Town Hall’ with Democratic Presidential Candidates
CNN on September 4th broadcast a seven-hour “Climate Crisis Town Hall” featuring ten Democratic presidential candidates. Each of the following candidates was in the spotlight…
![State Attorneys General Launch Antitrust Investigations, Forget ‘Relevant Market’ Fallacy](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ThinkstockPhotos-179318921_7-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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State Attorneys General Launch Antitrust Investigations, Forget ‘Relevant Market’ Fallacy
Facebook and Google are facing separate antitrust investigations from publicity-seeking state attorneys general from both parties. New York’s Democratic attorney general is heading a joint…
![Ethanol ‘Flex Fuel’ No Solution for Climate—or Political Compromise](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Car-trouble-Thinkstock_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Ethanol ‘Flex Fuel’ No Solution for Climate—or Political Compromise
Pollster Frank Luntz discussed climate policy Thursday night with Laura Ingraham on her Fox News program “The Ingraham Angle.” In the previous segment, Ingraham interviewed…
![Welfare for Billionaires: Stadium Subsidies Are Pure Cronyism](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/stadium-578x324-c-default.png)
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Welfare for Billionaires: Stadium Subsidies Are Pure Cronyism
Our old friend (and former Competitive Enterprise Institute journalism fellow) Tim Carney is doing excellent work at the American Enterprise Institute these days, where he…
![Trump Tariff Costs to Outweigh Benefits from Deregulation](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/dock-441989_960_720_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Trump Tariff Costs to Outweigh Benefits from Deregulation
Early in the Trump administration, a series of executive orders slowed the growth of new regulations and removed some existing rules. From the start of…
![Department of Energy Expands Consumer Choice in Light Bulbs](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cpp_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Department of Energy Expands Consumer Choice in Light Bulbs
The Trump administration took a pro-consumer step today as the Department of Energy finalized a rule that will allow certain types of lower-cost light bulbs to…
![Facebook’s $5 Billion Privacy Fine Almost Certainly Too High](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/codepointing_700x458-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Facebook’s $5 Billion Privacy Fine Almost Certainly Too High
Facebook has faced intense criticism from lawmakers and regulators since last spring, when The Observer and The New York Times reported that data from over…
![Marijuana Industry Bank Reform on Capitol Hill Agenda](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bank_creditunion_ThinkstockPhotos-web-version-537645186_6-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Marijuana Industry Bank Reform on Capitol Hill Agenda
While the continued legalization of recreational and medicinal use of marijuana at the state level has undoubtedly been a win for liberty, there remains much…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Stacks-of-papers-GettyImages-973870132-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
The UK parliament will soon be suspended for a five-week period, something the U.S. Congress should consider emulating as often as possible. Over in the…
![Loco Four Loko Hysteria](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Red-cups-GettyImages-619056486-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Loco Four Loko Hysteria
It’s only a matter of time before Phusion Projects' new hard seltzer hits shelves, which means that it’s only a matter of time before alarmists…
![Free-Market Groups Urge Reform of National Environmental Policy Act](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Industry-GettyImages-1054969666-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Free-Market Groups Urge Reform of National Environmental Policy Act
CEI and five other free market groups submitted comments on the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s Draft National Environmental Policy Act Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse…
![How Accounting Reform Can Help Address Public Pension Underfunding](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Deficit-GettyImages-959957308-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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How Accounting Reform Can Help Address Public Pension Underfunding
By deferring compensation, in the form of pensions, and pushing those costs well into the future, politicians can gain favor with government employee unions, which…
![Lung Disease Outbreak Caused by Black Market, not Vaping](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Vapes-and-cigs-GettyImages-1069503862-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Lung Disease Outbreak Caused by Black Market, not Vaping
News media around the world have picked up on the story of “vaping-linked” hospitalizations. Most have omitted the fact that black market marijuana e-liquid has…
![Union Wish List Bill Would Harm Workers and the Economy](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Strike-signs-GettyImages-91644706-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Union Wish List Bill Would Harm Workers and the Economy
Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) released a report that analyzes the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2019 (H.R. 2474), which the…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/deathvalley_nps-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
A humorous diplomatic row over Greenland was not the only news of the week, with China tariffs, divisive rhetoric, and recession fears also putting in…
![Senator Bernie Sanders Releases $16 Trillion Green New Deal Plan](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/bernie-sander-578x324-c-default.png)
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Senator Bernie Sanders Releases $16 Trillion Green New Deal Plan
On August 22nd, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released a 14,000-word plan to implement the Green New Deal—a detailed blueprint to “avert climate catastrophe and create…
![Washington Post Uses Dubious Data on ‘Extreme’ Climate Change](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/washington-post-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Washington Post Uses Dubious Data on ‘Extreme’ Climate Change
The Washington Post ran a long, complicated story by four reporters on August 14th headlined “Extreme climate change is here.”…
![Antitrust Basics: Think Long Term, Not Just Short Term](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ThinkstockPhotos-179318921_6-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Antitrust Basics: Think Long Term, Not Just Short Term
Moore’s Law states that computing power doubles every year and a half or so. An antitrust case against IBM, by contrast, lasted for 13 years,…
![David Koch (1940-2019), R.I.P.](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Koch_HQ-578x324-c-default.png)
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David Koch (1940-2019), R.I.P.
Friend, philanthropist, inventor, and industrialist David Koch has died at the age of 79. He was a father and husband. Known best for his pro-liberty…
![Heretics in the Church of Tobacco Control](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/GettyImages-579150312_3-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Heretics in the Church of Tobacco Control
H.P. Lovecraft opined in 1931 that “if religion were true its followers would not try to bludgeon their young into artificial conformity, but would merely…
![When Did Conservatives Stop Loving a Free Economy?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Give-money-thinkstock_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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When Did Conservatives Stop Loving a Free Economy?
National Review contributor and rage-inducing controversialist Kevin Williamson has a new book out, “The Smallest Minority: Independent Thinking in the Age of Mob Politics,” which…
![Sealand, from Pirate Radio to Seasteading](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/free-speech-edited_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Sealand, from Pirate Radio to Seasteading
Setting up a sovereign free territory has long been a dream of libertarian mavericks, from the ill-fated Republic of Minerva to the nascent Free Republic…
![Will T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Increase Prices?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Cell-phone-landscape_1-578x324-c-default.png)
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Will T-Mobile/Sprint Merger Increase Prices?
Lots of things influence prices and, of course, not all are influenced by the same factors. However, the lawsuit filed by several state attorneys general…
![Antitrust Basics: Corruption and Rent-Seeking](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/corruption_ThinkstockPhotos-591429586_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Antitrust Basics: Corruption and Rent-Seeking
Rent-seeking is economics jargon for chasing after unfair special favors from government. Businesses and individuals have a large menu of rent-seeking options to choose from,…
![Where Facebook Interim Report on Bias Falls Short](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/computer-guy-578x324-c-default.png)
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Where Facebook Interim Report on Bias Falls Short
Today former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), in fulfillment of an arrangement with Facebook, released an independent Interim Report (and accompanying op-ed) cataloging the primary concerns of…
![Debt Collectors Keep Credit Market Flowing](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/atm_ThinkstockPhotos-498148654-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Debt Collectors Keep Credit Market Flowing
Debt collecting is a profession that gets little love, but given the social good done by debt collectors who operate ethically and follow the rules,…
![Cataloging Regulatory Costs of Cronyism and Rent-Seeking in a Self-Interested Administrative State](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/corruption_ThinkstockPhotos-591429586_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Cataloging Regulatory Costs of Cronyism and Rent-Seeking in a Self-Interested Administrative State
Rent-seeking as a policy concern has been done to death: It’s been described over and over how regulation is often not about elevating the public…
![PRO Act Undermines Employee Choice](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/femalefactoryworker_ThinkstockPhotos-122406814_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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PRO Act Undermines Employee Choice
Democrats in Congress introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act with the state goal of strengthening union power and increasing union membership, which…
![Business Roundtable Restates Obvious: Stakeholders Matter (and Always Have)](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Give-money-thinkstock_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Business Roundtable Restates Obvious: Stakeholders Matter (and Always Have)
There’s a flurry of news coverage this morning about the Business Roundtable releasing a new public statement on “the purpose of a corporation.” Whereas previous…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ThinkstockPhotos-492681611_2-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Last week was the Federal Register’s busiest of the year, with its 3,075 pages almost tripling a normal week’s count. A new economically significant regulation…