Daren Bakst is the director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
View all authorsEconomyCommentary
This week, the House is expected to markup its child nutrition bill, which covers programs such as school meals. The last child nutrition bill–the Healthy,… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Many innovative products that may help people quit smoking, such as e-cigarettes, may be forced off the market, courtesy of a looming Food and Drug… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Recently the Senate failed to pass legislation that would effectively mandate the labeling of genetically engineered food. That’s a good thing. The Senate labeling bill… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Last year, the House passed a bill to pre-empt states from imposing mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food, also known as GMOs. While it looked… Read More
EducationCommentary
The Senate is at work on reauthorizing child nutrition programs. Last week, the Senate Agriculture Committee passed by voice vote its child nutrition legislation that… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Congress deserves some credit. They passed legislation to try and block some of the Environmental Protection Agency’s overreach, even recognizing that President Barack Obama would… Read More
PoliticsCommentary
The House is expected to begin considering the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act (H.R. 712), which would address a legal tactic often referred to as… Read More
EconomyCommentary
The next farm bill won’t be considered until at least 2018. However, Congress can take what should be non-controversial action now that sets up the possibility for real reform in the future:… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Federal agencies are probably celebrating today. They just learned there’s pretty much nothing they can do, including allegedly breaking the law, that will earn the wrath… Read More
EconomyCommentary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) broke the law when pushing its controversial water rule, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). As Congress considers whether… Read More
EconomyCommentary
As Congress figures out what policy riders, provisions in appropriations bills that prohibit or direct the use of funds for certain purposes, will be included… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Congress has a chance to reassert itself against regulatory overreach. The Senate has passed three Congressional Review Act (CRA) disapproval resolutions that would repeal the… Read More
PoliticsCommentary
The Senate has passed a Congressional Review Act disapproval resolution to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s and Army Corp of Engineers’ water rule that… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Congress appears to be stepping up to the plate to kill the Environmental Protection Agency’s and Army Corps of Engineers’ water rule (known as the… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Sell too many cherries, and the federal fruit police might come knocking at your door. Washington’s fruit and vegetable marketing orders give cartels the green… Read More
EnergyCommentary
Today, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) tightened up its ozone standard, from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion. Ozone refers to ground-level… Read More
EnergyCommentary
On Aug. 27, 2015, a federal district judge in North Dakota issued an order delaying the effective date of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s and the Army… Read More
EconomyCommentary
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers’ final water rule under the Clean Water Act seeks to regulate almost every type of… Read More
LawCommentary
Take a look around your living room. There’s a risk that it could become part of a food court in a mall or an assembly… Read More
EnergyCommentary
Today, the Supreme Court in Michigan v. EPA held that the Environmental Protection Agency improperly ignored costs when it decided to regulate hazardous air pollutants… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Today, the Food and Drug Administration released its de facto ban on artificial trans fat. In November 2013, the FDA published a tentative determination that… Read More
EnergyCommentary
There’s now another issue with the controversial water rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. The Environmental Protection Agency… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Do legislators truly care about waste and cronyism? We may get a chance to see how serious (or not) legislators are about these issues if… Read More
EnergyCommentary
The feds have launched a new power grab, and it’s coming at the expense of property rights. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps… Read More
PoliticsCommentary
There’s wide support for many economic policy reforms, despite the perception (and often the reality) that there’s partisan gridlock. Of course, getting anything passed through… Read More
LawCommentary
In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency published its final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that regulate the emissions of hazardous air pollutants from power plants…. Read More
EnergyCommentary
Speaking before the National Farmers Union annual convention this week, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy attempted to assure the group about the joint EPA and Army… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Last year, Congress created two major programs for farmers that, not surprisingly, will shatter Congressional Budget Office’s cost projections. Taxpayers’ liability for these programs is open-ended… Read More
PoliticsCommentary
If funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapses on Friday, there should be no confusion as to who is “defunding” Homeland Security. The House… Read More
EconomyCommentary
Federal dietary guidance may soon be based on the needs of the environment, not just nutrition. The federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee just released its… Read More
