CEI Daily Update

Issues in the News

1. ENVIRONMENT

New technologies may be causing scientists to over count the number of hurricanes and tropical storms.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis on the alleged link between hurricanes and global warming:

 

“…it is disingenuous for activists to claim that a hurricane-warming link justifies changes in U.S. energy policy. Indeed, hyping the hurricane-warming link can be counterproductive. If people seek protection from hurricanes in climate change policy, they are apt to neglect the preparedness measures that can actually save lives.”

 

2. TRADE

Trade analysts gather to assess the future of pending free trade agreements.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Study author Gabriel Sahlgren on how to improve working conditions around the world:

 

“The best way to improve environmental and labor conditions in developing countries is not through uniform environmental and labor standards, but by increasing productivity and economic growth, which in turn are best spurred by trade. If developing nations are forced to set higher standards than what the current level of productivity allows, their workers will eventually be penalized in the world market.”

 

3. LEGAL

Trial attorney Dickie Scruggs, known for his role in tobacco lawsuits, is indicted for bribing a judge.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Special Projects Counsel Hans Bader on what trial lawyers made off of tobacco litigation:

“Under the Master Settlement Agreement, trial lawyers received $15 billion (not million, billion) from the big tobacco companies, in a deal which also provided the tobacco companies who joined the deal with protection against competition from little tobacco companies that refused to join the deal and pay off the trial lawyers. 46 States and 6 territories entered into the deal, which gave state governments billions of dollars. CEI is challenging the deal in court.”

 

Blog feature: For more news and analysis, updated throughout the day, visit CEI’s blog, Open Market.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To contact a CEI expert for comment or interviews, please call the CEI communications department at 202-331-2273 or email to [email protected].