July 8, 2008
Keep Wind Coverage out of Flood Insurance Conference Report
By David C. John and Stephen Keen
(WebMemo #1982)
The conference report on the reauthorization of the NFIP should not be bogged down by irresponsible expansion into coverage of wind damage.
May 7, 2008
The Rulemaking Process and Unitary Executive Theory
By James L. Gattuso
(Testimony )
The Rulemaking Process and Unitary Executive Theory
May 6, 2008
Consumer Product Safety Database Poses Risks
By Andrew M. Grossman
(WebMemo #1915)
The panic over lead-contaminated toys revealed a serious shortcoming in safety efforts: Consumers, particularly parents, lack trusted sources to turn to for detailed information on ...
May 6, 2008
The FCC's Cross-Ownership Rule: Turning the Page on Media
By James L. Gattuso
(Backgrounder #2133)
Critics of the FCC’s decision to allow newspapers to be owned jointly with TV and radio stations under certain limited circumstances argue that cross-ownership would ...
April 22, 2008
The Subprime Mortgage Market Collapse:
A Primer on the Causes and Possible Solutions
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2127)
The collapse of the subprime mortgage market has created depression-like conditions in the housing market and driven the economy to the brink of recession, but ...
April 22, 2008
Executive Summary: The Subprime Mortgage Market Collapse: A Primer on the Causes and Possible Solutions
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #2127)
The collapse of the subprime mortgage market has created depression-like conditions in the housing market and driven the economy to the brink of recession, but ...
April 3, 2008
Subprime Mortgage Problems: A Quick Tour Through the Rubble
By Ronald D. Utt
(WebMemo #1881)
Proposals for new federal spending and credit programs would greatly expand the role of government in the economy while doing little to alleviate the distress ...
March 31, 2008
The Housing and Financial Markets:
Congressional Action Could Disrupt Market Correction
By J.D. Foster
(WebMemo #1874)
Congressional action could prolong and exacerbate the current situation.
March 28, 2008
The EPA's Prudent Response to Massachusetts v. EPA
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1870)
The EPA has taken the best course of action on the question of regulating carbon dioxide emissions.
March 28, 2008
The FARC Files, Colombia, and International Terrorism
By Ray Walser, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1872)
On March 26, 2008, Colombian officials reported recovering 66 pounds of depleted uranium that was originally acquired by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. (FARC). ...
March 25, 2008
Red Tape Rising: Regulatory Trends in the Bush Years
By James L. Gattuso
(Backgrounder #2116)
Contrary to much popular rhetoric about massive regulatory rollbacks, the regulatory burden has grown during President George W. Bush’s tenure, and the President’s final year ...
March 25, 2008
Uranium Mining Is Important for Securing America's Energy Future
By Jack Spencer and Nick Loris
(WebMemo #1866)
As nuclear power expands, it will be critical that uranium resources are accessible when mining can be done in a safe and economical way.
March 24, 2008
Frank-Dodd Approach Won't Fix the Mortgage Mess
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1864)
The most discussed proposals in Congress would make matters worse over the long term.
March 20, 2008
Preventing the Next Subprime Crisis
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1862)
If implemented properly, recommendations made by the President's Working Group on Financial Markets will help to prevent the next subprime mortgage crisis.
March 18, 2008
The Fed Engages as Economy Wavers
By J.D. Foster, Ph.D. and David C. John
(WebMemo #1857)
The health of the economy will depend significantly on the actions of the Federal Reserve in the days and weeks ahead.
March 3, 2008
Senate CPSC Bill: A Boon for Trial Lawyers at the Expense of Product Safety
By Andrew Grossman
(WebMemo #1831)
Congress should avoid policies that raise the cost of doing business, increase legal uncertainty and risk, and threaten jobs.
March 3, 2008
Consumer Product Safety Bill May Need a Recall
By James Gattuso
(WebMemo #1832)
The House and Senate bills could end up increasing bureaucracy and litigation rather than consumer safety.
February 26, 2008
EPA Should Not Increase the Ozone Regulation Burden
By Nick Loris and Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1827)
The EPA's proposal would hurt the economy and offers only marginal health benefits at best.
February 21, 2008
EPA Should Avoid Regulating Carbon Dioxide Emissions
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1822)
An "endangerment finding" would spark many measures with the potential to harm the U.S. economy and intrude on citizens' daily activities.
February 7, 2008
President's Homeownership Proposals Should Be Sent Back to the Drawing Board
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1802)
Expanding the federal government's role in the mortgage market would encourage more irresponsible behavior.
February 6, 2008
Administration Makes Needed Reforms in the Arms Export Control Process
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1798)
The Bush Administration should also lay the groundwork for more fundamental changes to an outdated system.
January 10, 2008
A Safe and Bountiful Harvest: How to Ensure America's Food Safety
By Daniella Markheim and Caroline Walsh
(Backgrounder #2096)
Legislating an unwise food safety policy could seriously undermine the primary benefits of international trade and harm U.S. households and the economy as a whole. ...
December 13, 2007
HOPE NOW: One Step to Resolve the Subprime Mortgage Crisis
By David C. John and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1742)
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s “HOPE NOW” is a far better way to deal with the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of subprime mortgages than ...
December 11, 2007
Let the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) Expire
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1733)
Government terrorism insurance distorts markets and amounts to corporate welfare. Congress should let it expire.
November 14, 2007
H.R. 3915 Would Impose New Burdens and Limits on Moderate Income Borrowers
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1703)
H.R.3915 would make borrowing tougher for moderate income families and delay the housing market recovery that is now struggling to get underway.
November 7, 2007
The Comcast Net Neutrality Controversy: A Discussion
By Adam Thierer, Jerry Brito, Edward Felten, Richard Bennett, and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #1696)
Panelists discuss the technology, policy, and politics of Comcast's controversial efforts to throttle BitTorrent traffic on its broadband network.
November 7, 2007
The Homeowners Defense Act: Bad Policy and a Dangerous Precedent
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1699)
Congress should reject attempts to place the risk of property losses due to natural disasters on the federal government.
October 22, 2007
National Heritage Areas: Costly Economic Development Schemes That Threaten Property Rights
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D., and Cheryl Chumley
(WebMemo #1671)
If enacted, H.R. 1483 would cost taxpayers an additional $135 million, jeopardize the property rights of private citizens, and distract the NPS from its core ...
September 27, 2007
Fixing Flood Insurance Before the Next Disaster: House Bill Takes Several Steps in the Wrong Direction
By David C. John
(WebMemo #1645)
Congress should not strap an expensive new program that directly competes with private insurance onto the existing bankrupt program.
September 27, 2007
Beyond the Fairness Doctrine: Radio’s Fight over the XM–Sirius Merger
By Edwin Meese III and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #1646)
Regulators should permit a merger that would strengthen competition and could lead to improved services for consumers.
September 24, 2007
The Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change: A Badly Needed Alternative to the Kyoto Protocol
By Ben Lieberman and Brett D. Schaefer
(WebMemo #1636)
Focusing on voluntary reductions and technological innovation is a more promising strategy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
September 19, 2007
Continuing the Effort to Curb Excessive FAA Salary Costs
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1622)
The President should veto legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration if the bill overturns a contract settlement with air traffic controllers that saves taxpayers billions ...
September 19, 2007
The House's Anti-Terror Insurance Bill: Unnecessary Corporate Welfare
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1623)
Congress should reject any reauthorization of TRIA, for any period of time.
September 19, 2007
Congress Should Stop Environmental Blackmail by Unions
By James Sherk
(WebMemo #1624)
Many unions threaten to delay or block the process of obtaining environmental permits unless a company agrees to build its facilities using only union labor. ...
August 1, 2007
The House Energy Bill: As Anti-Energy As the Senate Version
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1581)
The House energy bill repeats past mistakes and will likely lead to lower domestic energy supplies and higher costs over the long term.
July 9, 2007
No Energy in the House Energy Bill
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #1542)
By further restricting domestic production, the House energy bill would raise prices for consumers and may even increase dependence on foreign producers.
July 9, 2007
Comments to FCC on Sirius - XM Radio merger
By Edwin Meese, III and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo )
In accordance with the Public Notice issued by the Commission on June 8, 2007 we respectfully submit these comments on the applications of XM Satellite ...
June 18, 2007
Senate Energy Bill Would Increase Gas Prices
By William W. Beach and Shanea Watkins, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1512)
Through taxes and regulations, S. 1419 could increase the price of gasoline by 104 percent by 2016.
May 29, 2007
Senate Immigration Bill Marred by Prevailing Wage Provision
By James Sherk
(WebMemo #1475)
The Senate should remove from the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348) a provision that would require employers to ...
May 23, 2007
Back to Muzak? Congress and the Un-Fairness Doctrine
By James Gattuso
(WebMemo #1472)
Members of Congress must resist efforts to resurrect the unconstitutional and unnecessary federal power to regulate "fairness" in broadcasting.
May 16, 2007
The Sarbanes–Oxley Act: Do We Need a Regulatory or Legislative Fix?
By David C. John and Nancy M. Marano
(Backgrounder #2035)
Failure to take additional action to address the burdens imposed by Sarbanes–Oxley could have serious consequences, but even if a legislative review of the law ...
February 21, 2007
Reforming Sarbanes-Oxley: How to Restore American Leadership in World Capital Markets
By Honorable Tom Feeney, David C. John, and Alex J. Pollock
(Heritage Lecture #995)
The complex Sarbanes–Oxley law has generated unanticipated negative consequences in its attempt to clean up Wall Street accounting and reporting practices. The cost to the ...
February 5, 2007
No TV Left Behind: Digital Transition Subsidies for Basement Televisions?
By James Gattuso
(WebMemo #1340)
For the sake of taxpayers, the Bush Administration should decline to subsidize the basement TVs of households that subscribe to satellite or cable television.
November 9, 2006
Who Will Regulate the Regulators? The Battle Over Susan Dudley and OIRA
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #1250)
Susan Dudley, a top regulatory analyst and economist, is a strong candidate to lead the government's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
June 14, 2006
Speeding Reconstruction by Cutting Red Tape
By Nancy Marano and Alison Acosta Fraser
(WebMemo #1126)
More than nine months ago, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ripped through the Gulf Coast destroying lives and communities. As Members of Congress continue to explore ...
June 2, 2006
Broadband Regulation: Will Congress Neuter the Net?
By James L. Gattuso
(Backgrounder #1941)
Proposed network neutrality rules would impose comprehensive, unnecessary, and harmful mandates on broadband networks. These mandates, the most extensive regulation of the Internet ever considered ...
April 3, 2006
Good News, Bad News: Telecom Reform in the House
By James Gattuso
(WebMemo #1026)
After several false starts, telecommunications reform is once again moving in Congress. As soon as this week, the House Commerce Committee will vote on a ...
March 27, 2006
Hanging Up on Regulation: The Case for Telecommunications Reform
By The Honorable John Ensign
(Heritage Lecture #932)
Advances in technology have left the 1996 Telecommunications Act behind. America needs to move from a world of stifling government-managed competition to a consumer-controlled marketplace, ...
February 6, 2006
Fixing the Asbestos Mess: The Senate's Reform Needs Reforming
By James L. Gattuso and Tim Kane, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1909)
Asbestos. It is the basis for the longest-running mass tort litigation in U.S. history, as well as the most expensive. Since the late 1960s, some ...
December 21, 2005
Parents, Pricing, and TV Programming: The Competition Option
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #949)
Policymakers should remove barriers to competition in video services that prevent greater choice rather than impose new regulations
December 13, 2005
Fix the National Flood Insurance Program to Reduce Future Losses
By David C. John
(WebMemo #936)
Congress must make NFIP actuarially sound, or it will expose taxpayers to massive losses.
November 2, 2005
Keep the Internet Free of the United Nations
By Brett D. Schaefer, John J. Tkacik, Jr., and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #904)
The world body considers a new and troubling approach to Internet governance.
October 25, 2005
The Gas PRICE Act: A Modest Step Forward in the Post-Katrina Energy Debate
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #895)
Opponents say the bill would roll back environmental protections. They're wrong.
October 24, 2005
Another Bridge to Nowhere? The Senate's $3 Billion Subsidy for Aged Television Sets
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #891)
It's difficult to justify a $3 billion subsidy to aid the 15 percent of households that watch over-the-air-TV.
October 19, 2005
Providing Flood Insurance Coverage After the Disaster Is a Mistake
By David C. John
(WebMemo #888)
Two proposals would allow homeowners to buy into federal flood insurance after the fact. That's a bad idea.
October 14, 2005
Handouts and Takings: Congress and Digital Television
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #884)
This transition--and the spectrum it could free--is critical.
September 23, 2005
House Telecom Rewrite Needs a Rewrite
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #860)
What happened to telecom deregulation?
September 2, 2005
No Easy Answers For Post-Katrina Gas Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #831)
The short term solution is to waive regulations; long term, Congress should focus on supply.
September 1, 2005
A Bad Response To Post-Katrina Gas Prices
By Ben Lieberman
(WebMemo #827)
Capping the price of gas will cause shortages--even allowing 'price-gouging' is a better solution.
April 8, 2005
Mandated Fuel Surcharges: Will the Highway Bill Re-Regulate Trucking?
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #714)
The trucking industry doesn't need price controls.
February 15, 2005
Broadcast Indecency: More Regulation Not the Answer
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #666)
Conservatives should be wary of regulating speech.
February 7, 2005
Ma Bell's Retirement: No Big Deal
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #657)
AT&T got bought. Unthinkable? Not really.
December 14, 2004
Telecom Competition Rules: Déjà Vu All Over Again?
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #621)
The FCC's telecoms unbundling rules require a rethink
November 17, 2004
What is the Bush Administration's Record on Regulatory Reform?
By James L. Gattuso
(Testimony )
Over 60 agencies have a hand in federal regulatory policy, ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Together, they enforce ...
November 11, 2004
Hollywood, Values, and P2P Lawsuits
By James L. Gattuso and Norbert J. Michel, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #609)
MPAA's filesharing lawsuits are a sensible alternative to regulating technology.
October 26, 2004
Broadband by 2007: A Look at the President's Internet Initiative
By James L. Gattuso, John M. Kneuer, David McIntosh, Harold Furchtgott-Roth, and Peter Pitsch
(Heritage Lecture #852)
The Bush Administration has set a national goal for the spread of broadband communications by the year 2007. The broad objective is to create universal ...
October 22, 2004
Google v. Microsoft: Trustbusters Not Needed
By Andrew Grossman and James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #593)
A tale of technology overcoming monopoly without the trustbusters.
September 28, 2004
Reining in the Regulators: How Does President Bush Measure Up?
By James L. Gattuso
(Backgrounder #1801)
Regulation is a hidden tax that imposes a burden almost as heavy as income taxes. It also can hinder innovation and harm health and safety. ...
September 28, 2004
Executive Summary: Reining in the Regulators: How Does President Bush Measure Up?
By James L. Gattuso
(Executive Summary #1801)
Regulation is a hidden tax that imposes a burden almost as heavy as income taxes. It also can hinder innovation and harm health and safety. ...
September 27, 2004
Locking the Door Against Internet Trespass: Are New Laws Needed?
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #575)
Legislation is not the right answer to the spyware problem.
August 2, 2004
Banning the Better Alternative
By Erin M. Hymel
(WebMemo #547)
The Senate should follow the lead of the House and reject any proposals that would ban responsible use of snowmobiles.
June 16, 2004
Postal Reform Legislation: Less Than Letter-Perfect
By James L. Gattuso
(Executive Memorandum #937)
Two bills now pending before Congress (H.R. 4341 and S. 2468) would implement some welcome changes in how the Postal Service operates, but they still ...
June 1, 2004
Congress and Postal Reform: Less than Letter-Perfect
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #514)
The Postal reform bills in Congress fall short of the kind of real transformation that is needed.
May 24, 2004
Pumping Gas: What Consumers See Is Different Than What They Get
By Charli Coon
(WebMemo #511)
Is gas is much more expensive than it has been in the past? Not really.
May 21, 2004
Reforming Regulation to Keep America's Small Businesses Competitive
By James L. Gattuso
(Testimony )
Every year, Americans are reminded of the costs of federal taxation when they filed their income tax returns with the IRS, and see a clear ...
May 20, 2004
2004 Draft Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulations
By James Gattuso
(WebMemo #00)
In accordance with the notice published in the Federal Register, I respectfully submit these comments on OMB's Draft Report on the Costs and Benefits of ...
May 19, 2004
Congressional Mandates Contribute to Higher Gas Prices
By Charli Coon, J.D.
(Executive Memorandum #932)
In order to reduce gas prices, Congress should repeal the federal oxygen mandate; provide protections against additional specialized fuels that complicate production and distribution; open ...
May 18, 2004
Labor Regulation in the 21st Century Economy
By Steven J. Law
(Heritage Lecture #836)
American workers deserve, instead of false information and partisan attacks, workplace regulations that reflect the realities of the 21st century economy and protect their rights ...
May 17, 2004
Property and Competition in Telecom: A Response
By James L. Gattuso and Norbert Michel, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #505)
Lawrence Kotlikoff has offered a spirited response to our criticism of his startling claim that telephone networks belong to the public .
April 15, 2004
Google It: Privacy Advocates Wrong About Regulating Gmail
By Andrew M. Grossman
(WebMemo #479)
Consumers do take privacy seriously, but they want it on their own terms. Government regulation, therefore, would be a mistake.
April 8, 2004
Are U.S. Telecom Networks Public Property?
By James Gattuso and Norbert Michel, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1745)
Today's telecommunications networks are largely the result of recent investment—not a gift from the era of statutory monopolies. Additionally, investments made after the Telecommunications Act ...
March 12, 2004
Passing the Buck on Postal Pensions
By David C. John
(WebMemo #444)
Shifting USPS pension obligations to the Treasury would be a step in the wrong direction that would primarily serve to subsidize mass mailers while making ...
February 24, 2004
Bundles of Trouble: The FCC's Telephone Competition Rules
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #432)
Almost exactly one year after the FCC adopted new regulations governing competition in telephone service, telecom regulation once again under debate.
January 27, 2004
Senate Pension Agreement Paves the Way for a Taxpayer Bailout
By David C. John
(WebMemo #405)
In a direct parallel to legislative mistakes that helped to create the savings and loan crisis of the 1980's, the recent Senate bipartisan agreement on ...
January 21, 2004
State of the Union: Small Business, Large Regulation
By James L. Gattuso
(WebMemo #400)
Almost buried in President George W. Bush's 50-minute State of the Union Address was one line on an issue that could be key to America's ...
January 15, 2004
The Perils of the Precautionary Principle: Lessons from the American and European Experience
By John D. Graham, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #818)
There are multiple approaches to implementing precaution in risk management, but no such thing as a universal "precautionary principle." A subjective concept such as the ...
November 14, 2003
Time for Congress to Improve the National Flood Insurance Program
By David C. John
(WebMemo #369)
Congress has the opportunity to finally change one of the greatest weaknesses afflicting the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Designed to reduce the cost of ...
October 15, 2003
Congress Should Improve Workers' Access to Better Advice for Retirement Investing
By David C. John
(Executive Memorandum #903)
Congress should act promptly to ensure that investment advice is available to workers with defined contribution retirement plans, and the practical approach found in H.R. ...
October 7, 2003
Adjusting the Picture: Media Concentration or Diversity?
By James L. Gattuso, Benjamin Compaine, Robert Okun, Chris Core
(Heritage Lecture #798)
The Federal Communication Commission's decision to relax limits on television and radio ownership has sparked a wide debate on media concentration in America. Contrary to ...
August 7, 2003
Treasury Department Proposal for Defined Benefits Includes Important Reforms
By David C. John
(Backgrounder #1676)
A July 8 Treasury Department proposal addresses how best to measure pension plan funding, how to make it easier for workers and others to determine ...
June 19, 2003
The Case for RESPA Reform
By James L. Gattuso and Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #299)
For the vast majority, financing a home will be the largest—and most complex—single financial transaction they will ever make. Unfortunately, both this complexity and cost ...
May 29, 2003
The Myth of Media Concentration: Why the FCC's Media Ownership Rules Are Unnecessary
By James Gattuso
(WebMemo #284)
Despite many mergers in the media industry in recent years, Americans today actually enjoy more diversity and competition in the media than at any other ...
February 10, 2003
Local Telephone Competition: Unbundling the FCC's Rules
By James L. Gattuso
(Backgrounder #1621)
The FCC is expected to vote this week on new rules governing competition for local telephone service. It should rewrite its rules to limit mandated ...
November 5, 2002
Reaffirming Intellectual Property in an Information Age
By James E. Rogan
(Heritage Lecture #769)
Intellectual property is the principal engine for the creation of wealth in our society. We must not allow the canons of our constitutionally based intellectual ...
October 18, 2002
Expensing Employee Stock Options: Lifting the Fog
By Norbert Michel and Paul Garwood
(Center for Data Analysis Report #02-06)
Six studies found no evidence that the market isn't capable of valuing employee stock options under the existing accounting rules. The market is indifferent to ...
September 25, 2002
Self-Defense: A Different Tune on Copyright
By James L. Gattuso and Norbert J. Michel
(Executive Memorandum #835)
Representative Howard Berman (D-CA) proposed a radically different approach to solve the digital copyright violation problem: allowing copyright owners to use digital self-help measures to ...
August 15, 2002
Economic Confidence
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo #135)
Lawrence Whitman, formerly the director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at Heritage, appeared on MSNBC's "Nachman" Tuesday evening, to discuss ...
July 9, 2002
Congress Should Follow Sound Principles in Reforming Accounting Industry Practices
By David C. John
(Backgrounder #1567)
Recent accounting abuses are extremely serious, but ill-considered legislation will not correct the problem. The Senate Banking Committee bill will create an entirely new regulator ...
July 8, 2002
Congress Should Follow Sound Principles in Reforming Accounting Industry Practices
By David C. John
(WebMemo #124)
The Senate Banking Committee bill is filled with ill-considered and questionable provisions. Rather than strengthening the ability of the SEC to oversee auditing standards, it ...
May 31, 2002
Comments to OMB on Draft Report on Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulations
By James Gattuso
(WebMemo #103)
Estimating the total benefits and costs of federal regulations - as OMB is required to do in this report - is no easy task. Regulatory ...
May 13, 2002
Amtrak's Impending Collapse Offers One-Time Opportunity for Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Executive Summary #1547)
BG1547ES: Amtrak's Impending Collapse Offers One-Time Opportunity for Reform
May 13, 2002
Amtrak's Impending Collapse Offers One-Time Opportunity for Reform
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #1547)
Congress and the Administration should end their 30-year obsession with trying to prove that socialism can be made to work and instead welcome the opportunity ...
May 9, 2002
Regulating the Regulators: OIRA's Comeback
By James L. Gattuso
(Executive Memorandum #813)
OIRA's renewed activity has already sparked much criticism from regulators as well as the interest groups with a stake in regulation. The key question is ...
March 7, 2002
Opportunities to Improve Passenger Rail Service
By Ronald D. Utt, Ph.D.
(Testimony )
Congress and the Administration should welcome the opportunity to review and consider the many innovative proposals that might be adopted as remedies for America's ailing ...
February 28, 2002
More Education, Not More Regulation, Is Needed to Help Workers
By David C. John
(Backgrounder #1511)
Employers are not required to offer 401(k) accounts to their employees, and employees are not required to participate in them. Congress should react to the ...
February 7, 2002
The Myths of the Steel Industry's Arguments for Increased Government Intervention
By Aaron Schavey
(WebMemo #78)
The steel industry is attempting to convince the American public and lawmakers that protection is necessary for the industry for national security reasons and to ...
November 15, 2001
Public/Private Partnerships Perform Passenger and Baggage Screening at Nearly all of Europe's Busiest Airports
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo #59)
Public/Private Partnerships Perform Passenger and Baggage Screening at Nearly all of Europe's Busiest Airports
November 14, 2001
A Responsible Solution for the Problems Facing Terrorism Insurance
By David C. John
(Executive Memorandum #790)
The federal role in terrorism insurance must be temporary and limited. The last thing this country needs is another costly federal program like the flood ...
November 8, 2001
Inadequate Remedies for Poorly Performing Federal Workers Would Undermine Airport Security
By D. Mark Wilson
(WebMemo #54)
On November 6, 2001, Senator Daschle stated he would like to fire the company (Argenbright) and workers that do baggage screening for airport security for ...
October 15, 2001
Let's Learn from Experience on Airport Security
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo #48)
The current fragmented airline security system can be turned into a single, unified security system at each airport. However, having the federal government take over ...
October 2, 2001
Proposed Amtrak Bailout Would Bust the Budget
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1482)
Given the many successes experienced both at home and abroad, the Bush Administration should be open to any proposals for private-participation in fixing the ailing ...
February 23, 2001
End of the Line For Amtrak's Current Management
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1412)
When Amtrak releases its much-delayed financial report for fiscal year (FY) 2000 (which ended October 31, 2000), it is expected to show operating losses of ...
October 6, 2000
The Role of the FCC in the Information Age
By Adam D. Thierer
(Testimony )
Given the central role communications plays in today's global economy, the costs and inefficiencies of unneeded FCC regulation can ripple throughout the U.S. economy and ...
August 28, 2000
New Amtrak Boondoggle May Outdo All Others
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1392)
Legislation now before Congress proposes to dedicate as much as $16 billion of future budget surpluses to prop up Amtrak, America's federally chartered and subsidized ...
June 5, 2000
The Hutchinson Privacy Commission Act: A Smart First Step
By Scott C. Rayder
(Executive Memorandum #677)
Concerns over online access to personal and private information have quickly moved the issue to the forefront of Internet-related activities in Congress.
February 22, 2000
The Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation
By Angela Antonelli
(Testimony )
OMB is once again to be commended for its efforts. Each report has generated considerable debate about whether OMB can or should function as an ...
November 1, 1999
The Levin-Thompson Proposal: How Regulatory Improvement Veers Off Track
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Summary #1336)
BG1336ES: The Levin-Thompson Proposal: How Regulatory Improvement Veers Off Track
November 1, 1999
The Levin-Thompson Proposal: How Regulatory Improvement Veers Off Track
By Angela Antonelli
(Backgrounder #1336)
On March 25, 1999, Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Fred Thompson (R-TN) introduced S. 746, the Regulatory Improvement Act of 1999.
October 28, 1999
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (S. 900): A Major Step Toward Financial Deregulation
By David C. John
(Backgrounder #1338)
Congress may soon have an opportunity to officially recognize that America's financial services industry has changed over the past 66 years.
April 20, 1999
Regulatory Right to Know: Tracking the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Summary #1274)
BG1274ES: Regulatory Right to Know: Tracking the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation
April 20, 1999
Regulatory Right to Know: Tracking the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation
By Angela Antonelli
(Backgrounder #1274)
Congress has required the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to report each year on the costs and benefits of federal regulation.
April 2, 1999
The Senate's Opportunity to Shine a Light on Proposed Federal Mandates
By Angela Antonelli
(Backgrounder #1267)
These legislative proposals seek to build on the successes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) of 1995.
March 24, 1999
Regulatory Right to Know Act of 1999
By Angela Antonelli
(Testimony )
Congress has taken a number of important steps to demand accountability and common sense in how the federal government regulates and empower the public.
June 26, 1998
Two Years and 8600 Rules: Why Congress Needs an Office of Regulatory Analysis
By Angela Antonelli
(Backgrounder #1192)
For far too long, federal agencies have blamed Congress for many of the burdensome regulations they have crafted, and this blame has often been justified. ...
June 26, 1998
Two Years and 8600 Rules: Why Congress Needs an Office of Regulatory Analysis
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Summary #1192)
BG1192es:Two Years and 8600 Rules: Why Congress Needs an Office of Regulatory Analysis
May 15, 1998
Congress Should Accept Industry Offers to Buy Amtrak
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Backgrounder #1179)
Despite 27 years of federal subsidies amounting to more than $30 billion (in 1998 dollars), Amtrak's financial condition today is as bad as it ever ...
May 15, 1998
Congress Should Accept Industry Offers to Buy Amtrak
By Dr. Ronald D. Utt
(Executive Summary #1179)
BG1179ES: Congress Should Accept Industry Offers to Buy Amtrak
April 22, 1998
20th Anniversary of Airline Deregulation: Cause for Celebration, Not Re-regulation
By Adam D. Thierer
(Backgrounder #1173)
Despite years of falling prices, increased travel options, and vigorous industry competition, some federal policymakers appear to be on the brink of abandoning the incredibly ...
April 22, 1998
20TH Anniversary of Airline Deregulation: Cause for Celebration, Not Re-regulation
By Adam D. Thierer
(Executive Summary #1173)
BG1173es:20TH Anniversary of Airline Deregulation: Cause for Celebration, Not Re-regulation
October 28, 1997
What's Next For Telecommunications Deregulation?
By Adam D. Thierer
(Backgrounder #1145)
In a recent speech at the American Enterprise Institute, outgoing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt echoed the concerns of countless policymakers when he asked, ...
September 30, 1997
Shining a Bright Light on Regulators: Tracking the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation
By Susan Dudley and Angela Antonelli
(Backgrounder #1142)
Every year, the federal government issues thousands of regulations. According to the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), federal agencies produced 5,476 final rules between April ...
June 23, 1997
Electricity Deregulation and Federalism: How Congress and the States Can Work Together to Deregulate Successfully
By Adam D. Thierer
(Backgrounder #1125)
Deregulation of the $200 billion U.S. electricity sector is advancing at both the federal and state levels through a variety of liberalization plans and policies. ...
September 10, 1996
Government's Hidden Tax: Time to Account For the Cost of Regulation
By Angela Antonelli
(Executive Memorandum #459)
The Senate is expected soon to consider H.R. 3756, the Treasury and postal appropriations bill, which includes funding for the White House Office of Management ...
June 7, 1996
Senator Pressler's Bold Proposal for Spectrum Freedom
By Adam D. Thierer
(Backgrounder #1085)
With passage of the historic Telecommunications Act of 1996 earlier this year, many in Congress, the media, and the public have been led to believe ...
May 30, 1996
The Enterprise Resource Bank Act: Moving In The Wrong Direction
By John S. Barry
(Executive Memorandum #451)
Representative Richard Baker (R-LA) recently introduced legislation to reform the Federal Home Loan Banking System.
May 28, 1996
How S. 729 Would Set Back Transportation Reform and Block Fiscal Oversight
By Utt, Ronald D.
(Issue Bulletin #225)
October 16, 1995
Using Appropriations Riders to Curb Regulatory Excess
By Shanahan, John
(Issue Bulletin #218)
July 11, 1995
Improving the House Telecommunications Plan (H.R.1555)
By Thierer, Adam D.
(Backgrounder Update #255)
June 28, 1995
The Dole-Johnston Bill: A Setback for Regulatory Reform?
By Antonelli, Angela
(Issue Bulletin #210)
May 5, 1995
A Report Card on the Pressler Telecommunications Plan (S.652)
By Thierer, Adam D.
(Issue Bulletin #209)
February 22, 1995
How to Achieve $11 Billion in Savings from Privatization in FY 1996
By Utt, Ronald D.
(Committee Brief #6)
January 27, 1995
Time For A Moratorium On New Regulations
By Susan M. Eckerly
(Backgrounder #1017)
In an effort to ease the burden of federal red tape, congressmen have introduced legislation (H.R. 450/S. 219) to place a moratorium on executive branch ...
September 25, 1994
CBO Says Telecom Bill (S.1822) will Increase Spending and Bureaucracy
By Thierer, Adam D.
(FYI #39)
August 24, 1994
Senator Dole's Welcome Proposal for Telecommunication Freedom
By Thierer, Adam D.
(Backgrounder Update #233)
June 6, 1994
At Last — Hope for Regulatory Reform in the 103rd Congress
By Eckerly, Susan M.
(Executive Memorandum #383)
June 3, 1994
A Guide to Telecommunications Deregulation Legislation
By Thierer, Adam D.
(Issue Bulletin #191)
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