CEI Weekly: CEI Labor Project Inspires Reform in Oklahoma

Friday, February 3, 2012

Feature: The Big Labor vs. Taxpayers Index has inspired new pro-taxpayer legislation.

FEATURE: CEI Labor Project Inspires Reform in Oklahoma In 2011, CEI labor policy analysts created the Big Labor vs. Taxpayers Index to measure the influence of union lobbyists on state governments. The purpose of the Index was to educate lawmakers and taxpayers about union handouts at the state level. Now, in early 2012, the Index is certainly making a difference: Oklahoma Senator David Holt is introducing legislation to empower Oklahoma taxpayers, citing his state's poor ranking on CEI's Index. Read Research Associate Jack Mann's OpenMarket commentary on Sen. Holt's announcement for more details. SHAPING THE DEBATE Countering the Assault on Capitalism Fred L. Smith's article in Economic Affairs McDonald's and Pepsi's Different Response to Pressure Fred L. Smith's letter to the editor in The Wall Street Journal The FDA Has It Dead Wrong Michelle Minton's op-ed in The Hill Cuba, Where Sheep Are Trained to Venerate Wolves Bill Frezza's column in Forbes Dodd-Frank Shields Fannie and Freddie Hans Bader's letter to the editor in The Richmond Times-Dispatch Opposition to Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling Takes Right Turn Marc Scribner's citation in Politico How Europe Became a Dirty Word in the U.S. Election Iain Murray's citation in BBC News

CEI PODCAST February 2, 2012: The FDA's Latest Power Grab Fellow in Consumer Policy Studies Michelle Minton breaks down the FDA’s behind-the-scenes push to regulate dietary supplements nearly as strictly as prescription drugs. BEST OF THE BLOGS Facebook Filing Blasts Obama-Bush Overregulation of Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank By John Berlau Drip Drip Drip: Yet Another Green Energy Stimulus Recipient Hits the Skids By William Yeatman Update on Chevy Volt Hearing By Marlo Lewis Justice Kagan Should Recuse Herself From Obamacare Case By Hans Bader President Obama Wants to Help the Little Guys -- Especially If They're Names Boone Pickens and George Soros By Myron Ebell