by Richard Morrison
November 19, 2008

NBC Universal and corporate parent General Electric launch seven days of environmentally-themed programming with “Green Week.”

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Energy Policy Analyst William Yeatman on how this plays into GE’s marketing strategy:

“GE is a world leader in the production of clean energy goods and services that people don’t want to buy, like compact fluorescent light bulbs. That’s why it spends millions every year to convince the Congress to pass laws like last year’s energy bill, which forces consumers to buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. Generally speaking, Americans don’t like being told what to do, so GE uses ‘Green Week’ to propagate global warming alarmism and frighten Americans into accepting rules and regulations that force them to buy GE products.”

2. INTERNATIONAL

Political observers predict that President-elect Obama will nominate Sen. Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State.  

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Adjunct Fellow Fran Smith on what the appointment could mean for the future of free trade:

“Controversy continues over the strong possibility of President-elect Barack Obama naming Sen. Hillary Clinton as the new Secretary of State. Politico today notes that some of Sen. Obama’s close associates aren’t too happy about the idea. And, in the Huffington Post today, the lead article on potential difficulties with Hillary’s hubby’s international money-raising activities garnered 8,078 comments so far. There’s some real concern on my part – and some CEI staffers – that Hillary’s strong anti-trade and protectionist stance in the primary battles would presage a Secretary of State who wouldn’t temper the president-elect’s own anti-trade positions. And that could be disastrous in today’s world.”

3. BUSINESS

The Illinois state legislature votes to increase taxes on casino operators to prop up failing horse racing tracks.      

CEI Expert Available to Comment: Policy Analyst Michelle Minton expands on the logic of the Illinois tax:

“Sure, horse racing is one of the oldest sports and many towns have built their identities on the business of racing, but is that really a justifiable reason to saddle other private enterprises with the task of keeping a sinking business afloat? Imagine if this had happened to past “dying” industries, like the creator of the modern pen. Imagine if they had to tried to tax the pen manufacturer in order to ensure that the manufacturers of ink wells and quills could stay in business. They could even extend that tax to the creator of the typewriter and the personal computer for allegedly stealing customers who would otherwise have no choice but to purchase feather pens.”
 

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