CEI Today: Illinois securities fraud?, Dodd-Frank rules eased, and Earth Hour harms the Earth

ILLINOIS SECURITIES FRAUD? - IVAN OSORIO

Daily Caller: SEC’s focus on Illinois pension shenanigans is welcome, but not enough

Illinois recently became only the second state in U.S. history to be charged with securities fraud by federal regulators (New Jersey was the first, in 2010). On March 11, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused Illinois of deceiving investors regarding the health of its state employee pension funds, in a series of bond offerings from 2005 to 2009.

Illinois settled immediately, without either admitting or denying the charges. In exchange, the SEC did not require the state to pay a penalty. Considering the extent of Illinois’ pension funding shenanigans, that kid-glove treatment is surprising.  > Read more

> Interview Ivan Osorio

 

DODD-FRANK - JOHN BERLAU CEI.org: Main Street Wins As Dodd-Frank Rules Eased   Today, members of the House Agriculture Committee advanced seven bipartisan bills that would ease derivative rules of the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law of 2010. Senior Fellow John Berlau said the move represented a "growing recognition by both parties" that Dodd-Frank, which was intended to reform Wall Street, has instead victimized Main Street. >Read more > Interview John Berlau

SATURDAY, MARCH 23 CELEBRATE EARTH HOUR HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT HOUR! On Saturday, March 23 at 8:30pm (local time), some people, businesses and governments around the world will choose to sit in the dark for one hour as a symbolic gesture to take action against climate change. Celebrate  Human Achievement Hour, instead - lights ON! RSVP on Facebook Earth Hour Harms the Earth

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