Cause of Action in the News:
SC Magazine – FTC to appeal LabMD dismissal ruling
The Federal Trade Commission has decided to appeal Chief Administrative Law Judge Michael Chappel’s ruling to dismiss the case against LabMD. Cause of Action Executive Director Dan Epstein responded to the appeal, saying “Every unbiased decision-maker who has reviewed this case, including the FTC’s own Chief Administrative Law Judge, the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight & Government Reform Committee, and a U.S. District Court Judge, has found FTC’s claims against LabMD to be baseless, and its conduct inexplicable and even an ’embarrassment.’”
Politico – For their second act, Keystone killers tackle Exxon
Together with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Cause of Action has filed a complaint with the IRS against the Institute of Global Environment and Society. The founder of IGES was one of the first to demand that those opposed to his point of view be charged with federal racketeering. Our complaint charges the founder, Jadagish Shukla, of using government given funds for personal gain. The institute is currently being investigated by the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith.
Daily Caller – Congress To Protect Worst Bureaucratic Outrage You’ve Never Heard About
The Email Privacy Act has gained steam in the House with bipartisan backing. The act would protect internet providers from administrative subpoenas, which don’t require a judge’s approval before they are acted upon. Cause of Action Executive Director Dan Epstein said that “Administrative subpoenas – which are compulsory requests for information – issued by an unelected bureaucrat – not a judge or jury – and which forces individuals and businesses to provide information that will be used against them in a civil enforcement or criminal referral action – are one of the greatest threats to American liberty today, largely because there has been no judicial or legislative attempt to limit their scope or power.”
In Other News:
Washington Examiner – State Dept. to overhaul email system to prevent Clinton repeat
In an attempt to prevent another Hillary Clinton email scandal the State Department has sent out a request for information on a new email management system to be put into place by the end of next year. They are looking for a new system that will keep work and personal emails separate automatically. It will also automatically save all official emails. A federal watchdog determined that of the over 1 billion emails sent fewer than 65,000 were printed and saved.
Forbes – EPA Wants To Water Down Gasoline Supply With More Ethanol
The Environmental Protection Agency has decided to increase the amount of ethanol added to gasoline. This decision comes with bipartisan opposition consisting of “environmentalists, oil companies, legislators (Republican and Democrat) and various industry groups who collectively want the RFS standard eliminated.” The National Council of Chain Restaurants says that this new mandate will raise the price of food $3.2 billion a year.
Money Morning – What Happened to Government Transparency? All We See Is Illegal Stonewalling
Over the past five years, at least 20 inspectors general investigations have been obstructed in an affront to transparency. To make matters worse, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel in July determined that the intended reading of “all records” does not in fact include “all records.” Instead, a record deemed to contain “confidential” information can now be retained from the IG’s scope of investigation by the agency. A New York University professor says that inspectors general have become “defanged” and that “[t]his is by far the most aggressive assault on the inspector general concept since the beginning.”
