Cap and Trade, Tea Parties and Luggage Limitations

The Senate prepares to consider the “cap and trade” global warming legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives.

Citizens around the country gather at “Tea Party” rallies to protest high taxes and federal spending.

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) introduces legislation to limit the size of carry-on bags on airplanes.

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1. ENVIRONMENT 

The Senate prepares to consider the “cap and trade” global warming legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of Energy and Global Warming Policy Myron Ebell on the legislation’s prospects

“The process [of approving the House version of the bill] should be an embarrassment to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills), but once people find out what’s in it, the bill will become an embarrassment to everyone who voted for it. Waxman-Markey has no future in the Senate, and with any luck this first victory for energy-rationing legislation will be the last.”

 

2. POLITICS

Citizens around the country gather at “Tea Party” rallies to protest high taxes and federal spending.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Policy Analyst Michelle Minton on what she saw as a speaker at the Fourth of July D.C. Tea Party

“Since April of 2009 people have been gathering around the country to attend ‘tea parties.’ At these rallies, ordinary citizens, Democrat, Republican, or other are able to register their displeasure with the way their country is being run. If you attended the Independence day tea party in Washington, DC this past Saturday, you would have noted by the 2000-strong attendance that moment hasn’t slowed, angry hasn’t been quelled, and the citizens appetite for change has yet to be sated.” 

 

3. CONSUMER

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) introduces legislation to limit the size of carry-on bags on airplanes.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Regulatory Studies Fellow Ryan Young on what the motivation might be for such an inconvenient new law: 

“And all for what? Non-regulatory solutions already exist. If your carry-on is too big, then the airline can check your bag at the gate. It’s not that big a deal. At least not to you or me. But it could be a very big deal to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, a union that represents airline baggage handlers. Strictly enforced carry-on size restrictions could steer a lot of business their way — almost certainly more than enough to recoup the $10,000 they gave Rep. Lipinski last election cycle.” 

 

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