National ID Cards, Green Hypocrisy and Insurance Subsidies

The Cato Institute hosts a policy forum on proposals to create a de facto national ID card.

The Daily Mail profiles the hypocrisy of jet-setting celebrity environmentalists.

Members of Congress consider expanding federal subsidies for disaster insurance.

1. ENVIRONMENT

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CEI Expert Available to Comment: Vice President for Policy Wayne Crews on the threat from so-called “smart” ID cards:

“We also should avoid mixing public compulsory databases with those amassed through voluntary, routine commercial transactions. People need to know that information they relinquish in commercial transactions is confined to an agreed-upon purpose, not automatically entered into a government database. The Virginia smart-license proposal could cross this line and undermine constitutional safeguards against unreasonable surveillance.”

 

2. ENVIRONMENT

The Daily Mail profiles the hypocrisy of jet-setting celebrity environmentalists.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: General Counsel Sam Kazman on the dark side to some environmental efforts:

“Global warming activists warn us about the alleged threats from global warming, but are usually silent about the much more immediate threats from global warming policies. Restricting access to affordable energy is a sure recipe for increasing poverty, disease and human misery around the world.”

 

3. CONGRESS

Members of Congress consider expanding federal subsidies for disaster insurance.

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Eli Lehrer and colleagues urge Senators not to add wind damage to the federal flood insurance program:

“In the next few days the Senate will consider proposals relating to national catastrophe policy. If amendments are offered to the National Flood Insurance Program bill (S. 2284) adding windstorm coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program, creating a federal reinsurance backstop, or providing low interest loans to state catastrophe funds we, free market groups who have joined the coalition Americans for Smart National Catastrophe Policy, urge you to oppose them.”

 

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