CEI Summit Tahoe

In search of awe and inspiration, far from the seat of power, the CEI team and friends traveled to south Lake Tahoe for our seventh annual policy summit. Since the program’s launch in 2017, summit destinations have moved steadily westward, with stunning Lake Tahoe wrapping up our first cross-country expedition.

To soak in the surroundings, we kicked off with a beachfront reception and a sunset cruise to Emerald Bay, aboard the Spirit of Tahoe. CEI friends and entrepreneurs Steve and Lana Hardy invited us into the hills of the Eastern Sierra to tour their vibrant 34-acre ranch and Buffalo Creek Art Center, which offers rotating residencies for artists working on three-dimensional pieces in metal, wood, ceramic, or multimedia.

John Tomasi, the inaugural president of Heterodox Academy, joined Kent Lassman on stage opening night to share HxA’s success in promoting open inquiry and viewpoint diversity on campuses around the country. The first morning, we were delighted to welcome two public officials on the program. Congressman Kevin Kiley, representing Tahoe in California’s 3rd congressional district, joined Research Fellow Sean Higgins to discuss how he is prioritizing worker rights in California. Senior Fellow Richard Morrison interviewed Securities and Exchange Commissioner Hester Peirce about the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) movement. She cautioned against the growing “ESG industrial complex” requiring companies to make disclosures immaterial to their business. Capping the weekend, the Ghost of Mark Twain, embodied by local legend McAvoy Lane for the past thirty-five years, treated us to stories of his adventures traveling to and residing on the lake he memorably exalted. 

In addition to the conversations around liberalizing free speech, the labor market, and a whole-of-government ESG policy, CEI experts discussed their work exposing the Federal Trade Commission’s rogue behavior, the United States’ inept permitting procedure, and why property rights are intrinsic to a free society. Alex Reinauer, Jessica Melugin, and Ryan Young sang the praises of the consumer welfare standard being abandoned by the FTC and shared how CEI is tracking the agency’s repeated overreach with its Eye on FTC campaign. Mario Loyola debuted a new report on global infrastructure permitting and argued the U.S. must modernize its permitting regime to stay competitive in the world market. Writer in residence Kevin D. Williamson closed our sessions with a historical illustration of why civil rights rely on property rights.

An all-around success, the CEI team returned from the summit inspired and exhilarated by the thoughtful, creative company, conversations, and experience.