Immigration, Smoking Bans and Sarbanes-Oxley
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) introduces comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
The Colorado Supreme Court upholds a ban on smoking in stage performances.
The battle over the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate accounting law heats up.
Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.
1. CONGRESS
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) introduces comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Policy Analyst Alex Nowrasteh on the pros and cons of the bill:
“Easing immigration to the U.S. would be an enormous benefit to our economy. Immigrants, especially the highly skilled, create jobs and economic opportunities for Americans. This bill takes a small step in the right direction by increasing the number of H-1B and other work visas, but it has a few major flaws. It takes a giant step backwards by mandating an E-Verify system for all employees. The goal of government policy during a recession should be to increase economic growth and deregulate labor markets, but E-Verify will do the opposite.”
2. LEGAL
The Colorado Supreme Court upholds a ban on smoking in stage performances.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Policy Analyst Michelle Minton defends the right of free expression:
“If free speech advocates want to have any hope of defending their rights they will have to answer the fundamental claim: can individual rights be set aside for the ‘public good’ or not? If the answer is ‘no’ then it is unconditional. The courts can’t kind of hamper free speech by forcing stage producers to use fake cigarettes–it’s an outright violation of rights. If advocates give bureaucrats that ground it gives them the ground to legislate any number of artistic choices (the music is offensive, the lights aren’t environmentally friendly, the costumes are to salacious). Under no circumstances should the government be able to extinguish the unconditional right of individuals to express themselves.”
3. BUSINESS
The battle over the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate accounting law heats up.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Director of the Center for Investors and Entrepreneurs John Berlau on the effects of “Sarbox”:
“Substantial evidence shows that the law, which was intended to protect investors from corporate abuses, is hindering honest firms’ ability to raise capital and the average investor’s capacity to grow wealth. Enacted after major corporate scandals, the law increases penalties for fraud, but it also contains many mandates that unduly restrict legitimate entrepreneurs.”
Listen to LibertyWeek, the CEI podcast, here.