![What Do the Midterms Mean for Carbon Taxes?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WA_stateflag_0-578x324-c-default.png)
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What Do the Midterms Mean for Carbon Taxes?
Washington State’s Initiative 1631 to establish a “carbon emissions fee” went down in flames Tuesday with opponents outvoting supporters by 56 to 44 percent.
![What Do the Midterms Mean for Big Tech?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Congress-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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What Do the Midterms Mean for Big Tech?
For the big technology firms, the midterm elections were never going to change much. Whatever the result, they were going to face more scrutiny over the…
![Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Needs to Rewrite Payday Loan Rule](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/computer-1583432_1920_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Needs to Rewrite Payday Loan Rule
Last week, I wrote a blog post on how the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection could go about narrowly rewriting the payday loan rule. This would…
![U.S. Officials Wary of United Nations Ozone Treaty Negotiations in Ecuador](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pipline-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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U.S. Officials Wary of United Nations Ozone Treaty Negotiations in Ecuador
The 30th meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) is being held in Quito…
![Infrastructure in Divided Congress Must Include Regulatory, Permitting Reforms](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GettyImages-589959058_0-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Infrastructure in Divided Congress Must Include Regulatory, Permitting Reforms
Even before the results were in, the election-night talking heads were speculating on what, if anything, congressional Democrats and Republicans can agree on and get…
![What Do the Midterms Mean for Financial Services?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/cash_ThinkstockPhotos-200275642-001-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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What Do the Midterms Mean for Financial Services?
![Will New Congress Seek Reforms to Highway Taxation?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/driving-pixabay_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Will New Congress Seek Reforms to Highway Taxation?
Could the 116th Congress be the perfect storm for mileage-based user fees? With a divided Congress and with the current surface transportation law expiring at…
![What Do the Midterms Mean for Labor and Employment?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ThinkstockPhotos-467926585_1-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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What Do the Midterms Mean for Labor and Employment?
The primary labor and employment statutes—National Labor Relations Act and Fair Labor Standards Act—have not been substantially amended for decades. A divided government is not…
![What Do the Midterms Mean for Trade?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/trade_shippingcontainers_ThinkstockPhotos-509671666_4-578x324-c-default.png)
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What Do the Midterms Mean for Trade?
Trade was a highly contentious issue during President Trump’s first two years. He has doubled tariffs, other countries have enacted equivalent retaliatory tariffs, and tensions…
![What Do the Midterms Mean for Regulatory Reform?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/getty-1_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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What Do the Midterms Mean for Regulatory Reform?
A divided Congress probably means the status quo will reign on regulation. This is a mixed bag from a free-market perspective. President Trump made…
![AFL-CIO’s Own Workers Threaten a Strike](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/employees_ThinkstockPhotos-512165336_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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AFL-CIO’s Own Workers Threaten a Strike
AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka frequently lambasts companies for not “sharing the wealth” with employees. Joining a union is a surefire way to see an increase…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Red-Tape-Regulation-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Regulators were relatively quiet during the week before the midterm election, though CEI wasn’t, with our colleague Ted Frank arguing a case before the Supreme…
![Environmental Groups Petition EPA to Prevent Damage from Renewable Fuel Standard](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ThinkstockPhotos-72967749-farmfield-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Environmental Groups Petition EPA to Prevent Damage from Renewable Fuel Standard
EarthJustice, the National Wildlife Federation, and other environmental pressure groups have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to better police the land use requirements in…
![China Caught Cheating on Montreal Protocol Ahead of Major Meeting](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/china_usa_flags_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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China Caught Cheating on Montreal Protocol Ahead of Major Meeting
A recent study has found that emissions of carbon tetrachloride from East Asia are on the rise, even though production of this chemical has…
![Hole in the ACE: Legal Flaws in EPA’s Proposed ‘Clean Power Plan’ Replacement](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GettyImages-589959058-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Hole in the ACE: Legal Flaws in EPA’s Proposed ‘Clean Power Plan’ Replacement
The comment period closed this week (October 31st) for the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed replacement for the so-called…
![RegData Tracks Extent of Federal and State Regulation](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/regdata-578x324-c-default.png)
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RegData Tracks Extent of Federal and State Regulation
This week our old friend Chad Reese of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University hosts a new podcast about Mercatus’ RegData…
![Wealth in Disguise: Why Halloween Costumes Are Better Than Ever](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/oldhalloween_costumes-578x324-c-default.png)
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Wealth in Disguise: Why Halloween Costumes Are Better Than Ever
Before we bid farewell to Halloween week 2018 for good, let’s take a chance to glean an economic lesson from the piles of candy, cardboard…
![ACE-ing the Repeal of the Clean Power Plan](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/powerplant2_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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ACE-ing the Repeal of the Clean Power Plan
The Trump administration is in the midst of moving forward with its proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, a replacement for the Obama-era…
![Can Self-Driving Taxis Reduce Urban Poverty?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/driver-car_4-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Can Self-Driving Taxis Reduce Urban Poverty?
In last year’s omnibus spending package, Congress allocated up to $1.5 million to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to conduct a study on the…
![Feds, Telecom Industry, Mayors Pledge Cooperation on Building Smart Cities](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SteveBenjamin_mayor_columbiasouthcarolina-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Feds, Telecom Industry, Mayors Pledge Cooperation on Building Smart Cities
Charter Communications here in D.C. held a fascinating policy event this morning, “Partnering with Communities Today to Build the Smart Cities of Tomorrow.” The…
![Q&A on Frank v. Gaos, Class Action Lawsuit Headed to Supreme Court](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SCOTUS.gov_-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Q&A on Frank v. Gaos, Class Action Lawsuit Headed to Supreme Court
Q: What is the main question at issue in Frank v. Gaos? A: The Supreme Court will consider whether a class action settlement is fair under…
![How to Rewrite the Payday Loan Rule](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/bankline_cr-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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How to Rewrite the Payday Loan Rule
Last Friday, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection announced that it will be reconsidering its’ controversial Payday, Vehicle Title, and High-Cost Installment Loan rule.
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/pexels-photo-29585_0-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Lots of contentious issues are in the news, from the midterm election to immigration to a disturbing rash of bombs sent to politicians and media…
![New York State Latest to Sue Over Climate Change](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ThinkstockPhotos-179318921_2-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New York State Latest to Sue Over Climate Change
New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood launched a lawsuit on October 24th against ExxonMobil Corporation over the company’s treatment of climate change-related risks and costs. The…
![Greens Want to Hide the Truth about Chlorpyrifos](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/chemicals_lab_ThinkstockPhotos-506712124_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Greens Want to Hide the Truth about Chlorpyrifos
Environmental crusades to ban pesticides often exaggerate chemical risks with little, if any, consideration of how bans undermine food production. And there is a reason…
![Food Truck Freedom Marches on in North Carolina](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IJ_foodtruck_NC-578x324-c-default.png)
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Food Truck Freedom Marches on in North Carolina
There is good news for fans of the Poor Piggy’s BBQ food truck. The town of Carolina Beach, North Carolina has reversed its anticompetitive…
![David Friedman Swings and Misses at AV START Act](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/driver-car_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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David Friedman Swings and Misses at AV START Act
Axios recently launched a newsletter dedicated to automated vehicles. In the most recent issue, David Friedman attacks bipartisan legislation in Congress aimed at speeding…
![Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Airline Deregulation](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/airlinecabin_ThinkstockPhotos-200257838-001_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Airline Deregulation
Forty years ago today on October 24, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the Airline Deregulation Act into law. This bipartisan legislation led to the elimination…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/school_books_apple_ThinkstockPhotos-470724822_0-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
The fall 2018 edition of the semi-annual Unified Agenda was released on Wednesday. It lists upcoming regulations from every rulemaking agency. This marks the…
![Fewer Regulations, More Energy, Lower Emissions](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/GettyImages-509843570-smaller_1-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Fewer Regulations, More Energy, Lower Emissions
The Trump administration had cheery news to report this week about deregulation, U.S. energy production, and greenhouse gas emissions.
![Mapping Public Policy Wins at the State Level](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/scooter_SPNAM2018_20181010_121732x600_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Mapping Public Policy Wins at the State Level
The fine folks at the State Policy Network deserve well-earned congratulations on the completion of yet another successful annual meeting, this year co-sponsored by…
![Help the Poor by Making Their Lives Less Expensive](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/worried_bills_householdfinance-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Help the Poor by Making Their Lives Less Expensive
The Cato Institute’s Ryan Bourne has a great new study (and accompanying video) out about social welfare, government spending, and regulatory reform.
![Is Particulate Matter Air Pollution as Dangerous as Cancer?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/milloyscarebookcover-578x324-c-default.png)
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Is Particulate Matter Air Pollution as Dangerous as Cancer?
Yesterday the Competitive Enterprise Institute published Steve Milloy’s new policy brief on the impact of revised federal rules for auto mileage and emissions, “Will the Trump…
![Environmental Protection Agency Considering Backdoor Subsidies for ‘Talking Car’ Tech](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/driving-pixabay_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Environmental Protection Agency Considering Backdoor Subsidies for ‘Talking Car’ Tech
During the final days of the Obama administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed its “talking car” mandate. This would have required new…
![A Toast to the Sears Catalog](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Closed-Thinkstock_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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A Toast to the Sears Catalog
In retail, as in every industry, eras come and go. Few recent events mark the passing of an era like the announced bankruptcy of…
![Labor Department Listens to Public Input on Overtime Rule](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/employees_ThinkstockPhotos-512165336_2-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Labor Department Listens to Public Input on Overtime Rule
Yesterday, I attended the Department of Labor’s final overtime listening session. It was an opportunity for the DOL to hear from the public on how…
![Discard Static Market Analysis, Let Sprint and T-Mobile Merge](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/server_ThinkstockPhotos-521607312_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Discard Static Market Analysis, Let Sprint and T-Mobile Merge
The Competitive Enterprise Institute has been making a convincing case for a swift and condition-free approval from regulators of the proposed Sprint and T-Mobile…
![Frank v. Gaos: Fighting to Protect Consumers from Greedy Attorneys](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/frankgaos-578x324-c-default.png)
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Frank v. Gaos: Fighting to Protect Consumers from Greedy Attorneys
Our class action legal team here at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the Center for Class Action Fairness, has a new video explainer on their…
![U.S. Government Weighs in on ‘Cy Pres’ Abuse in Frank v. Gaos](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/corruption_ThinkstockPhotos-591429586_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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U.S. Government Weighs in on ‘Cy Pres’ Abuse in Frank v. Gaos
On October 31, 2018, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Frank v. Gaos. The petitioners are class members challenging a class action…
![What Regulations Has the Trump Administration Eliminated So Far?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Red-Tape-ThinkstockPhotos-535352001-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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What Regulations Has the Trump Administration Eliminated So Far?
The fall 2018 Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions just appeared today. Notably, this is the first time the fall…
![UN Special Report: Turning the World’s Energy Economy upside down Is a Good Idea](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/UN_ipcc_1600x800-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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UN Special Report: Turning the World’s Energy Economy upside down Is a Good Idea
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on October 6th released a “Special Report (SR15) on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees C.” The…
![David Henderson (1927-2018), RIP](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/rolebusiness-578x324-c-default.png)
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David Henderson (1927-2018), RIP
We are sad to note the death of our good friend and strong ally, David Henderson, on September 30th in London. After a career as…
![How to Articulate a Free-Market Vision for the Future](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ThinkstockPhotos-464624727-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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How to Articulate a Free-Market Vision for the Future
The Competitive Enterprise Institute views most market failure rationales for government intervention as wrong, overstated, or unproven (or all of the above). The Competitive Enterprise Institute…
![California’s Attempt at Net Neutrality Clearly Unconstitutional](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Internet-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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California’s Attempt at Net Neutrality Clearly Unconstitutional
On September 30, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB-822, a set of regulations on Internet service providers that’s slated to go into…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/old_TVs_ThinkstockPhotos-503299452-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
In a Columbus Day-shortened work week, agencies issued more than 50 new regulations from deregulated TVs in TV commercials to POSTNET.
![Dutch Appeals Court, Citing Paris Climate Treaty, Upholds Climate Lawsuit](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/netherland_ministry_justice_cr-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Dutch Appeals Court, Citing Paris Climate Treaty, Upholds Climate Lawsuit
A Dutch appeals court last week upheld a lower court’s June 2015 decision requiring the government to cut Holland’s carbon dioxide…
![Be a Giver with DonorsTrust and State Policy Network in Salt Lake City](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/scooter_SPNAM2018_20181010_121732x600_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Be a Giver with DonorsTrust and State Policy Network in Salt Lake City
This week the State Policy Network is holding its legendary annual meeting, this time in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah. With hundreds of delegates from…
![Tariffs Won’t Achieve America’s Goals](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/trade_shippingcontainers_ThinkstockPhotos-509671666_2_0-578x324-c-default.png)
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Tariffs Won’t Achieve America’s Goals
Over at Morning Consult, Iain Murray and I have an op-ed explaining why tariffs are ill-suited to achieving the Trump administration’s economic and foreign…
![Promise and Pitfalls of Treasury Fintech Report](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/treasury-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Promise and Pitfalls of Treasury Fintech Report
July 31st, 2018, was one of the most exciting days for financial technology regulation in recent memory. Around 10 a.m. that morning was when the…
![William Nordhaus, Paul Romer Win 2018 Economics Nobel Prize](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ryoung-graph_0-578x324-c-default.png)
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William Nordhaus, Paul Romer Win 2018 Economics Nobel Prize
Both of this year’s economics Nobel laureates have been on the short list for some time. Both are deserving, as David Henderson writes in…
![Bricks and Wood Heaters Also Need Relief from Obama-era Overreach](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/brick_1600-s14052-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Bricks and Wood Heaters Also Need Relief from Obama-era Overreach
Several of the Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency’s most expensive and far-reaching Clean Air Act regulations are back in the news now that the Trump administration is…
![Automated Vehicles 3.0 Guidance Continues Green-Lighting Innovation](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/AVcar_tech-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Automated Vehicles 3.0 Guidance Continues Green-Lighting Innovation
Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released the third iteration of its guidance for automated vehicles, Preparing for the Future of Transportation:…
![Deregulation Coming from Labor Department](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DOL_cr-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Deregulation Coming from Labor Department
Deregulation is a topline goal of the current administration. Leading the pack in terms of costs savings from reducing red tape is the Department…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/capefear_NC-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
In the news last week, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) got a new name (USMCA) that nobody will use, and President Trump…
![Twelve States Ask Court to Dismiss Climate Lawsuit against Big Oil](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/WA_stateflag-578x324-c-default.png)
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Twelve States Ask Court to Dismiss Climate Lawsuit against Big Oil
A dozen states led by Indiana this week filed an amicus brief asking the federal district court in Seattle, Washington to dismiss a climate…
![Booker and Holt Caricature Science Transparency Rule at Senate Hearing](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Experiment-pexels_1-578x324-c-default.jpeg)
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Booker and Holt Caricature Science Transparency Rule at Senate Hearing
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing this week on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule to strengthen the transparency…
![Free Trade Is Good for Both Havana and East Atlanta](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/remy-578x324-c-default.png)
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Free Trade Is Good for Both Havana and East Atlanta
Our musical friend Remy has a new video out this week for ReasonTV that puts a pop spin on trade policy and comparative advantage.
![New Study Reminds Regulators to Keep Focus on Consumer Welfare in Antitrust](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ITIFantitrustevent-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New Study Reminds Regulators to Keep Focus on Consumer Welfare in Antitrust
Yesterday the good folks at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) held an important and timely event on the future of antitrust policy. The splotlight…
![Coal Plant Developers Still Building, Investing Despite Paris Agreement](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/powerplant_ThinkstockPhotos-478501502_3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Coal Plant Developers Still Building, Investing Despite Paris Agreement
“Since the Paris Climate Agreement was negotiated in December 2015, the world’s installed coal-fired capacity grew by 92,000 MW—an increase equal to the combined operating…
![Unfounded Accusations Regarding Bees and Glyphosate](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/rice-pixabay-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Unfounded Accusations Regarding Bees and Glyphosate
Recent accusations that a popular weed killer harms honeybees have become headline news in a wide range of sources including CBS News, The…
![New NAFTA Could Have Been Much Worse](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dock-441989_960_720_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New NAFTA Could Have Been Much Worse
The new USMC (United States-Mexico-Canada) trade agreement isn’t very different from the old NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), and that’s a good thing. Given…
![U.S. Justice Department Challenges California Net Neutrality Rules](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ThinkstockPhotos-479804064-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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U.S. Justice Department Challenges California Net Neutrality Rules
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/money_capitol_ThinkstockPhotos-122516159_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
It was a busy week in the political world, from the bitter Supreme Court controversy to President Trump’s UN speech, to tariffs on $260…
![Five Western States Will Vote on Energy Questions on November Ballots](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/cpp_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Five Western States Will Vote on Energy Questions on November Ballots
Five western states have initiatives or referendums on energy issues. They include increasing renewable energy mandates, instituting a carbon tax, restricting oil and gas production,…
![Trump Auto Rule: Washington Post’s Non-Shocking Non-Discovery](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/bmw-1712736_960_720_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Trump Auto Rule: Washington Post’s Non-Shocking Non-Discovery
Today in the Washington Post, Juliet Eilperin, Brady Dennis, and Chris Mooney bash the Trump Administration’s SAFE Vehicles Rule, a proposal to freeze…
![VIDEO: ‘Gov’ Is Back and He’s Here to Help](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/lovegov2-578x324-c-default.png)
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VIDEO: ‘Gov’ Is Back and He’s Here to Help
Our creative friends at the Independent Institute in California are back with an entertaining new video series that pokes fun at some of the…
![Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Trade?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/trade_shippingcontainers_ThinkstockPhotos-509671666_3-578x324-c-default.png)
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Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Trade?
A common argument for free trade is that fewer trade barriers mean more trade. That argument is mostly true—there are a lot of deals people…
![A New Front in the Trade War: Overseas Private Investment](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/UN-Flags-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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A New Front in the Trade War: Overseas Private Investment
Tariffs get most of the press in today’s trade debate, and for good reason. Tariff rates under Trump have roughly doubled in less than two…
![National Labor Relations Board Responds to Democrats’ Invented Ethics Concerns](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NLRB-logo-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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National Labor Relations Board Responds to Democrats’ Invented Ethics Concerns
On September 17, Sen. Warren sent a letter to the NLRB warning that it must “fully comply with federal ethics regulations during reconsideration” of whether…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/road-train-1021563_1920_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
Hurricane Florence, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s sexual assault allegation, and a ten percent tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods dominated the news. Meanwhile,…
![Tariffs and Opportunity Costs](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/trade_shippingcontainers_ThinkstockPhotos-509671666_2-578x324-c-default.png)
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Tariffs and Opportunity Costs
Today’s unsubtle trade debate largely ignores a subtle, but vitally important concept: opportunity costs. Direct harms from tariffs are easy enough to point out. Steel…
![‘Energy Independence’ Hawks Caricature Trump Auto Rule](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/gasoline-pixabay-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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‘Energy Independence’ Hawks Caricature Trump Auto Rule
Securing America’s Energy Future (SAFE), a pro-regulatory “energy independence” advocacy group, this week released “The Military Cost of Defending Global Oil Supplies.” The report…
![Making a Living with Free Speech](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IJjonandtracy-578x324-c-default.png)
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Making a Living with Free Speech
Free speech protections in the United States are pretty far reaching, including protections for commercial free speech and occupational free speech. If you…
![‘Traders of the Lost Ark’ in the News](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/dock-441989_960_720_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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‘Traders of the Lost Ark’ in the News
The excellent recent study on trade policy by my colleagues Iain Murray and Ryan Young, “Traders of the Lost Ark: Rediscovering a Moral and…
![Congress Should Stay out of Sports Betting Regulation](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Sports-Betting-Basketball-2-Thinkstock_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Congress Should Stay out of Sports Betting Regulation
For the first time in twenty-five years, Americans can legally wager on the outcome of sporting events outside of Nevada. Thanks to a Supreme…
![Free-Market Groups Urge Congress to Eliminate, Not Expand, Electric Vehicle Tax Credits](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Car-trouble-Thinkstock-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Free-Market Groups Urge Congress to Eliminate, Not Expand, Electric Vehicle Tax Credits
In a joint letter released this week, thirty free market groups urged House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) to oppose “any effort to expand…
![Trade Goings-On: U.S.-UK Draft Agreement, New Book, and Peter Navarro’s Conversion](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/shipping-containers-1150062_960_720-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Trade Goings-On: U.S.-UK Draft Agreement, New Book, and Peter Navarro’s Conversion
The Competitive Enterprise Institute is not the only group making a principled case for free trade. The UK-based Initiative for Free Trade, headed…
![5 Steps to Buy Influence in a Governor’s Office](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/CEI_Social_Sept_Infographic_LC_v2_header-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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5 Steps to Buy Influence in a Governor’s Office
Last week, the Competitive Entrerprise Institute released a major new study by Senior Fellow Christopher C. Horner, “Government for Rent: How Special Interests Finance Governors to…
![Common Myths and Facts about Trade](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cargo-449784_960_720-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Common Myths and Facts about Trade
There are a lot of confusions on both sides of the trade debate. A short CEI WebMemo, published today, seeks to clear up three…
![New Federal Labor Directive Holds Unions Accountable to Workers](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ThinkstockPhotos-467926585_0-scaled-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New Federal Labor Directive Holds Unions Accountable to Workers
Last week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) general counsel’s office issued a directive that provides clarification for when field offices should pursue charges “against unions…
![Health and Human Services Secretary Should Halt Grants to UN Cancer Agency](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Experiment-pexels_0-578x324-c-default.jpeg)
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Health and Human Services Secretary Should Halt Grants to UN Cancer Agency
Yesterday, Congress passed an appropriations bill that kept funding intact for the United Nations body known as the International Agency for Research on Cancer…
![Elizabeth Warren Imagines Another Ethics Concern at National Labor Relations Board](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NLRB-seal-487x246_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Elizabeth Warren Imagines Another Ethics Concern at National Labor Relations Board
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is attempting to undermine another case before the National Labor Relations Board. In a transparent political stunt, the senator is pushing…
![VIDEO: Self-Driving Cars Will Make Traveling Safer and More Efficient](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/money-3-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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VIDEO: Self-Driving Cars Will Make Traveling Safer and More Efficient
The Competitive Enterprise Institute is releasing a new video today on automated vehicles (a/k/a self-driving cars) and how they could make our roads dramatically safer. They…
![How to Bypass Voters and Push a Climate Change Agenda in 5 Steps](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ag-study-infographic_header-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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How to Bypass Voters and Push a Climate Change Agenda in 5 Steps
At the end of last month, the Competitive Enterprise Institute released a dramatic new study by Senior Fellow Christopher C. Horner, “Law Enforcement for…
![To Promote Highway Safety and Innovation, Senate Must Pass AV START Act](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/driverless-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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To Promote Highway Safety and Innovation, Senate Must Pass AV START Act
It has now been over a year since the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan SELF DRIVE Act by voice vote. Its companion bill,…
![New China Tariffs Coming Soon](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/china_usa_flags-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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New China Tariffs Coming Soon
Less than a week after signing a bill to reduce some tariffs, the administration is moving to raise others. As soon as today, the…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Paper-stacks-GettyImages-934434004_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
It was a slow week for substantive news, aside from President Trump’s surprise signing of the Miscellaneous Tariff Act, which reduces tariffs on about 1,700…
![CEI Seeks Communications between National Labor Relations Board and Senate Committee](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/HELP_committee-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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CEI Seeks Communications between National Labor Relations Board and Senate Committee
A political campaign to obstruct the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from properly administering the National Labor Relations Act is in full…
![Three States Join California in Raising Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Costs](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/calgary-commercial-refrigeration-services-840-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Three States Join California in Raising Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Costs
Maryland, New York, and Connecticut are following California’s lead in proposing restrictions on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), the class of refrigerants widely used…
![California’s Gov. Brown Issues Carbon Neutrality Order, Signs Renewable Energy Bill](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/california_bear_flag-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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California’s Gov. Brown Issues Carbon Neutrality Order, Signs Renewable Energy Bill
California Governor Jerry Brown (D) on September 10th issued Executive Order B-55-18 establishing a statewide goal to “achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible, and…
![The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: What’s Changed?](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Mortgage-GettyImages-817726962-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: What’s Changed?
Ten years ago, the United States plunged into a financial crisis that would bring the world economy to the brink of collapse. The housing bubble…
![President Trump Signs Miscellaneous Tariff Act](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Container-ship-GettyImages-905238538-578x324-c-default.jpg)
Blog
President Trump Signs Miscellaneous Tariff Act
In a surprise move, President Trump signed the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act into law on Thursday. The bill will reduce tariffs on roughly 1,700 goods…
![Zoning Laws Are Holding Back America’s Cities](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/map_redlining_realestate_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
Blog
Zoning Laws Are Holding Back America’s Cities
The options we have for housing are determined, in part, by the houses and apartment buildings that developers choose to build. But what they are…
![The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: Restrictions on Housing Supply Makes Matters Worse](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/homebuilding-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: Restrictions on Housing Supply Makes Matters Worse
The broader financial crisis of 2007-2008 was the result of the U.S residential housing market collapse. That housing collapse itself was a consequence of an…
![Ninth Circuit Opens Pandora’s Box in Oregon Fuel Standards Case](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/biofuels_ThinkstockPhotos-532730849_0-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Ninth Circuit Opens Pandora’s Box in Oregon Fuel Standards Case
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld Oregon’s Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS), dismissing a lawsuit filed by U.S. refiners, truckers,…
![The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: Fannie and Freddie Fueled the Subprime Mortgage Bubble](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/subprimecirsis-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: Fannie and Freddie Fueled the Subprime Mortgage Bubble
If anything symbolizes the American dream, it is homeownership—an asset that is viewed as part of a route from poverty and exclusion to independence and…
![Free Trade Challenges: Tariffs, Concentrated Benefits, and Diffused Costs](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cashgrab-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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Free Trade Challenges: Tariffs, Concentrated Benefits, and Diffused Costs
Tariffs hurt more people than they help. So why do those outnumbered few keep winning so many political victories at the majority’s expense? The answer…
![The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: A Legacy of Racist Government Housing Policy](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/fairhousing_ThinkstockPhotos-186285961_1-578x324-c-default.jpg)
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The Financial Crisis 10 Years Later: A Legacy of Racist Government Housing Policy
A decade ago this Saturday, the world shook as Lehman Brothers, the fourth-largest investment bank in the United States, filed for bankruptcy. Representing one of…
Blog
Government for Rent: Exposing Climate Politics in Governors’ Offices
Today the Competitive Enterprise Institute has released my colleague Chris Horner’s new study on how special interests have been buying influence in governors’ offices, “…
![This Week in Ridiculous Regulations](https://cei.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Fireworks_Lake-Erie-578x324-c-default.jpg)
Blog
This Week in Ridiculous Regulations
After a short Labor Day breather, Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s hearings and White House intrigue made for a lively four-day week. Meanwhile, agencies issued…