Since our founding in 1984, the Competitive Enterprise Institute has sought to reform and reduce environmental regulation of land, shrink the federal estate, and unlock federal lands for private ownership.
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The vital role of private conservation: A different perspective on Earth Day
Amidst the jubilation over government-led environmental initiatives on yet another Earth Day yesterday, it’s crucial to highlight a perspective too often overlooked: private conservation, rather…
Blog
This week in ridiculous regulations: Trademark fees and threatened sloths
A cargo ship struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The psychologist and economist Daniel Kahneman died at age 90.
Blog
One way for government to improve air quality: Remove obstacles to prescribed fires
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule on particulate matter prematurely makes the primary annual standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) much…
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Op-Eds
The Pill as Pollutant
In 2002, thanks to soccer star David Beckham, the world was introduced to the “metrosexual.” Two years later, and with less mainstream-media…
News Release
What Should Forests Fear: Global Warming or Global Warming Policies?
Activists who fear catastrophic effects from global warming have long predicted that deforestation would be one of the many impacts. As the Senate Foreign Relations…
Study
The Really Inconvenient Truths
From the Inside Flap Al Gore is bad for the planet… Talk about really inconvenient truths–that's one of the many you'll find in Iain Murray's…
Newsletter
Biofuels, Natural Gas Prices and Farm Subsidies
Dramatically rising food prices are linked to the expanded use of biofuels. Natural gas prices in the U.S. rise 93% in eight months. Political wrangling…
Newsletter
Judicial Salaries, Food Riots and the Olympic Torch
New York state judge Judith Kaye sues to have the salaries of state judges increased by 20%. The head of the International Monetary Fund warns…
Study
Ecuador Mining News’ Investor Survey: A Mixed Bag
The EMN Investor Concerns Survey, an initiative of this publication, reveals that half of respondents want to keep their mining stocks in firms operating in…
Op-Eds
Lawmakers, undo some of 2007 reforms
A year has passed since Gov. Charlie Crist and a nearly unanimous Legislature hailed the arrival of a new era for Florida’s property insurance…
News Release
House Hearing Should Look at the Facts on Polar Bears
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., January 17, 2008—The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hear…
Op-Eds
An Industry Worth Its Weight in Gold
Originally published in Spanish in the Sunday, December 16, 2007 edition of El Comercio newspaper, Quito, Ecuador. Translated by Ecuador Mining News…
News Release
Senate Passes Farm Bill
Washington, D.C., December 14, 2007—Yesterday the Senate passed the 2007 farm bill, the first major revision of agricultural policy in five years. "The $286…
Products
CEI Planet: November – December 2007
Full Document Available in PDF The Tiger at a…
Op-Eds
Living up to green ‘standards’
In his HGTV show “Living with Ed,” actor and environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. shows his viewers how to live green. Begley certainly more…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT A United Nations report warns of increasing acid levels in the world’s oceans realted to global warming. CEI…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CONGRESS President Bush threatens to veto the 2007 Farm Bill. CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CONGRESS Members of the Senate meet this afternoon to consider the 2007 Farm Bill. CEI Expert…
News Release
Senate Poised to Surrender U.S. Powers
Contact: Christine Hall, 202.331.2258 Washington, D.C., October 30, 2007—The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is poised to vote Wednesday morning on an…
News Release
Farm Bill Saddles Taxpayers with Billions in Subsidies
Washington, D.C., November 2, 2007—As Congress is poised to approve a new farm bill that further burdens consumers, taxpayers, and the poor while paying…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. CONGRESS The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee expresses doubts about the 2007 Farm Bill. CEI…
Op-Eds
Sea Treaty Would Crush US Entrepreneurs
The Law of the Sea Treaty, or LOST, is the most important treaty you've never heard of. It would turn over all of the…
News Release
House Committees Focus on Global Warming
Washington, D.C., November 1, 2007—Today the U.S. House of Representatives addresses global warming from two different angles, with hearings in both the Budget Committee…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. INTERNATIONAL The Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes to approve the controversial United Nations-sponsored Law of the Sea Treaty…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. INTERNATIONAL The Senate Foreign Relations Committee considers the controversial United Nations-sponsored Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST). …
Op-Eds
Ecoterrorism Kills
With reports that some of the fires in California may have been started by arsonists, some people have speculated that all the fires were…
News Release
House Committee Focuses on Renewable Energy
Washington, D.C., October 30, 2007—This afternoon a subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee will hear testimony on "renewable energy and the global environment."…
News Release
Wildfire Crises Exacerbated by Government Forest, Insurance Policies
Washington, D.C., Oct. 26, 2007—In the aftermath of devastating fires ravaging parts of Southern California and causing an estimated $500 million in damage, it’s…
Op-Eds
California Fire Smokescreen
Are climate alarmists using the Southern California wildfires to fan the flames of global warming? Are environmentalists and government bureaucrats using global warming…
News Release
U.N. Birthday Highlights Threat to U.S. Sovereignty by New Treaty
Washington, D.C., October 23, 2007—With United Nations Day celebrations coming up on October 24, Senate Democrats are leading an effort to pass the Law…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. SAFETY Firefighters battle wildfires throughout southern California. CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Robert…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH Democrats in Congress vow to keep pushing the children’s health insurance bill known as “SCHIP,” even…
Letters
Opposition Letter to Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST) – DRAFT
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is currently considering ratification of the United Nations treaty on the Law of the Sea. This treaty has dangerous…
News Release
Fred Smith To Testify On Law Of The Sea
Contact: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., October 3, 2007—Tomorrow Competitive Enterprise Institute President Fred L. Smith, Jr. will testify before the Senate…
News Release
Bush Ponders Disastrous Global Sea Treaty
Contact: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Christine Hall, 202.331.2258 Washington, D.C., Sept. 25, 2007— The controversial Law of the Sea…
Study
A Village’s Travail
Full Document Available in PDF Rosia Montana, a poor mining town in the Transylvanian…
Study
The Green Regulatory State
Full Document Available in PDF Over the years, the environmental lobby has advanced a considerable…
Op-Eds
Barriers to more effective US disaster insurance
Sir, You are right about the need for much greater purchase of disaster insurance but, perhaps, say verylittle about how difficult it might be…
Op-Eds
Free trade agreements win-win for U.S.
Support for free trade long has transcended party politics in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />America. But that era officially ended with…
News Release
House Set to Debate Boondoggle Farm Bill
Washington, D.C., July 25, 2007—The U.S. House will begin debate on the 2007 Farm Bill tomorrow. H.R. 2419 is a $250 billion special-interest package that…
Newsletter
CEI Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. FINANCE Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke testifies before Congress on the alleged abuse of “subprime” loans. …
News Release
Public Interest Groups Oppose Sugar Subsidies
Washington, D.C., July 17, 2007—As members of the House Agriculture Committee consider the 2007 farm bill, several public interest groups are urging committee members to…
News Release
New Study Charts the Growth of Environmental Law
Washington, D.C., July 17, 2007—According to a new study from the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the conventional idea that progressive environmental causes suffer under conservative…
Letters
Letter to Members of the House Agriculture Committee Regarding the 2007 Farm Bill
To: Members of the House Agriculture Committee We, as representatives of consumer, taxpayer, public policy, and humanitarian groups, are writing to express…
News Release
Congress Poised to Prop Up Sugar Regime
Washington, D.C., July 16, 2007—Americans have been paying for sugar at two to three times the world price over the past 25 years, thanks…
Op-Eds
Hanging Onto the Trash
One would think we were dealing with a major national security issue considering how worked up New York politicians get about garbage. But that's…
Study
Corn-Based Ethanol
A boom in ethanol production is taking place today for variety of reasons. Undoubtedly, the most significant factor is government support and subsidies for biofuel…
Newsletter
Cooler Heads Digest
1. A note from Fred Smith, CEI founder and president2. The Week in Global Warming News3. CEI’s Insider Information4. Issue…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENERGY The Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing on energy policy titled “ Coal:…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH First Lady Laura Bush delivers remarks in the White House Rose Garden for Malaria Awareness Day .
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> 1. HEALTH A federal advisory…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Farm experts warn of increasing price volatility as U.S. farmers plant more corn to meet the demand for ethanol. CEI Expert…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. GLOBAL WARMING The UK’s Channel 4 prepares to air The Great Global…
Op-Eds
Unsustainable Environmentalism
Environmental activists use the term “sustainable development” to convey the notion that they’re not merely knee-jerk anti-business zealots and that they are all in…
Op-Eds
Free the Eagle: The bird will do fine off the endangered list
T he bald eagle was supposed to be taken off the Endangered Species list in 48 states on February 16, but environmental pressure groups and…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENT…
Study
This Liberal Congress Went to Market: a Bipartisan Policy Agenda for the 110th Congress
DO…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. TECHNOLOGY The White House appoints a new “Cybersecurity Czar” to oversee federal computer security…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Issues in the News 1. TECHNOLOGY…
News Release
Trouble at Treasury: Paulson Wrong Choice for Secretary
Washington, D.C., May 30, 2006—The White House made an unfortunate mistake in nominating Henry M. Paulson, Jr. to be the next Secretary of the Treasury, according…
News Release
Does Al Gore Need to Go on an Energy Diet?
Contact: <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Christine Hall, 202.331.2258 [email protected] …
Op-Eds
Defining Virtue
by Isaac Post | May 21, 2006 David Vogel’s The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility offers…
News Release
CEI and Sugar Reform Alliance Urge Congress to Begin Reforming U.S. Sugar Regime
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., May 16, 2006— Consumer, taxpayer, humanitarian and public policy groups sent a letter today,…
Letters
Letter to Congress in Support of Sugar Reform Amendment
Full Document Available in PDF…
Products
Animal Rights, Human Wrongs
Animal rights extremists—whom the FBI has labeled America’s biggest domestic terrorism threat—have encountered a number of serious reverses recently. These reverses are a great victory…
Products
CEI Planet: March – April 2006
Full Document Available in PDF New Era, or ‘Ancien Régime,’…
Op-Eds
Top Ten Junk Science Stories of the Past Decade
My web site JunkScience.com celebrated its 10th anniversary on April 1, 2006. To mark the event, this column spotlights…
Study
The U.N.’s Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management Program
Full Document Available in PDF In February 2006, at…
News Release
CEI Experts to Participate in Endangered Species Act Panel
The Endangered Species Act: Why Protecting Property Rights Is Good For Landowners And Species Capitol Hill Briefing: Monday, March 27, Noon…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH The United Nations marks the importance of clean drinking water in the developing world with…
Op-Eds
Careful What You Wish For
If you wanted to lower electric energy prices in the US, what would you do? If you answered, “Cripple the domestic railroad industry,” you'd…
News Release
Senate Should Vote for Affordable Energy
Contact: Richard Morrison, 202-331-2273 Washington, D.C., March 16, 2006—As the U.S. Senate considers an important budget resolution, the Competitive Enterprise Institute urges…
Op-Eds
Gators and a Lot of Guff
Few experiences inspire awe like paddling a canoe through a Florida swamp filled with otters, turtles and tropical birds. Or spending the night on high…
Letters
Joint Letter to House and Senate Leadership on Opening ANWR to Energy Exploration
Rep. Dennis Hastert Sen. Bill Frist Rep. John Boehner Washington, D. C. March 8, 2006 Dear Mr. Speaker/Mr.
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. SUPREME COURT The nation’s highest court hears a constitutional challenge to the Clean Water…
Newsletter
Supreme Court Reviews Water Quality Regulations
Washington, D.C., February 21, 2006—The U.S. Supreme Court today hears arguments over the reach and constitutionality of the Clean Water Act, setting the stage for…
News Release
Supreme Court Reviews Water Quality Regulations
The U.S. Supreme Court today hears arguments over the reach and constitutionality of the Clean Water Act, setting the stage for a potentially…
News Release
Frist Should Cancel Senators’ Christmas Vacations
Contact: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., December 20, 2005— Statement of Myron Ebell, Director of Global Warming & International Environmental Policy at the Competitive…
Op-Eds
A Windfall of Bad Ideas
In the third-quarter of 2005, the major U.S. oil companies—ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP America, and Shell Oil Company—collectively earned almost $26 billion in profits, an…
Op-Eds
Privatizing the Inner City
In June the Supreme Court said that <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />New London, Conn. could force Susette Kelo and a…
News Release
House Urged to Reconsider Arctic and Offshore Oil Exploration
Contact: <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /> Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273 Washington, D.C., November…
News Release
Trade Liberalization Again Threatened by Agricultural Special Interests
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., October 20, 2005— The world's best hope for eliminating poverty – the continued liberalization…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. WETLANDS The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear two cases on federal wetlands regulation involving questions…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY The U.S. House of Representatives approved the first major reform in 30 years to the…
News Release
CEI Opposes Miller-Boehlert Amendment to ESA Reform Bill
Washington, DC, September 29, 2005—The Competitive Enterprise Institute strongly supports property rights protections in the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (H. R.
News Release
ESA Reform Bill Passes House
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, DC, September 29, 2005—The Competitive Enterprise Institute commends the U.S. House for passing much-needed reform…
News Release
Open ANWR Now to Oil Exploration
Washington, DC, September 20, 2005—Will Congress finally make the right decision this fall and open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration? The Competitive…
News Release
Pombo’s ESA Bill Will Protect Property Owners
Washington, DC, September 20, 2005—The Competitive Enterprise Institute strongly supports provisions to improve protection of Americans’ constitutional right to property contained in the U.S.
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. ENDANGERED SPECIES Congressman Richard Pombo introduces new legislation that would rewrite the Endangered Species Act to better…
News Release
Environmental Groups Opposed Flood Protection
Washington, D.C., September 13, 2005—Amid the slow recovery of the Gulf Coast from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, a great deal of criticism…
Op-Eds
A Law Unto Themselves
It’s always an ambitious task to argue that a seemingly technical abuse of the Constitution is responsible for much of what is wrong with American…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. HEALTH & SAFETY More people are debunking the myth that fast food is responsible for obesity…
News Release
CEI Challenges Attempted Ecological Takeover of Bush Foreign Aid Program
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Washington, D.C., August 11, 2005—This week the Competitive Enterprise Institute submitted comments and a proposal…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. FINANCE Rep. Michael Oxley, co-sponsor of the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate accounting law, expresses concerns about its impact.
Op-Eds
Jared Diamond and the Terrible Too’s
Full article available in pdf format Fred Smith's review essay of Jared Diamond's Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed in…
Op-Eds
Spaceship Earth: An Astronaut is up above the Clouds
Astronaut Eileen Collins is concerned about the environmental degradation she sees from space. On board the fragile spaceship Discovery, she lamented from her unique…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. NATURAL RESOURCES A summer wildfire in Washington state expands to 32,000 acres. CEI Expert Available…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
1. CONSTITUTIONAL & LEGAL CEI launches a lawsuit challenging the government-sponsored tobacco cartel created by the 1998 multi-state tobacco settlement. CEI…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
1. GLOBAL WARMING President Bush defends the U.S. position on global warming before the leaders of the G8 nations.
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. LEGAL & CONSTITUTIONAL The U.S. Supreme Court issues a close but devastating opinion for…
Op-Eds
Rock Stars’ Activism Could Be Put to Better Use, by Steven J. Milloy
Bob Geldof’s Live 8 (search) concerts scheduled for July 2 will spotlight the problem of global poverty ahead of the July 6-8 G8 summit…
Newsletter
The Competitive Enterprise Institute Daily Update
Issues in the News 1. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY The House Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs examines government red…
Op-Eds
Enviros, Homeland Security Threaten Drinking Water Safety
Chlorinated drinking water is generally regarded as one of the most important advances in public health. Yet the lifesaving practice of chlorination has never…