Date: Wed, 19 Jul 1995 14:25:07 -0400 (EDT) From: Competitive Enterprise Institute To: Recipients of the CEI List Subject: CEI List: Press Release For Immediate Release: July 19, 1995 SENATE REGULATORY REFORM BILL TOOTHLESS Agencies Still Free to Pursue "Killer Toothpick" Issues WASHINGTON, DC July 20 -- The Competitive Enterprise Institute today charged that the current Senate regulatory reform bill is so weak that it is worse than no bill at all. CEI made its charges at a press conference held to unveil a new analysis of the House and Senate regulatory reform proposals. The analysis was written by noted risk assessment specialist Steven J. Milloy, chief author of the Department of Energy's *Choices In Risk Assessment.* Mr. Milloy will speak at the press conference, which will be held at the National Press Club (DC), at 13th and F St., 13th floor, in the West Room at 10:00 AM, Thursday July 20. In CEI's view, the problem with overregulation is best illustrated by the "killer toothpick" episode: In 1991 a federal court overturned EPA's attempt to ban asbestos pipes and shingles. The court struck down the agency's $300 million ban on products which it found to be twice as safe as toothpicks. (Toothpicks kill about one person per year due to accidental ingestion.) CEI General Counsel Sam Kazman stated: "'Killer toothpick targets' epitomize the need for regulatory reform. In one case after another, agencies have embarked on multimillion dollar campaigns to regulate risks that are smaller than those posed by toothpicks. Any bill that fails to halt this insanity does not deserve the name of regulatory reform." According to Mr. Milloy's study, the Senate bill would achieve little in the way of reform because it does not amend existing law and because it provides for only minimal judicial review. Given the difficulty that Congress would have in taking this issue up again after enacting legislation, the study concludes that "no bill is better than a bad bill." CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to free markets and limited government. For a copy of the study or for more information, call Greg Smith at (202) 331-1010. Or write to: _______ ________ __________ / | | | |_______ | | | | \ _______ |_______ __________ COMPETITIVE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW #1250 Washington, DC 20036 202-331-1010, fax 202-331-0640 Permission to reprint must be obtained from the publishing journal listed above. Permission to copy granted as long as these lines are left intact. To subscribe to the cei list, send a message to CEI@digex.com. "The Virtual Hand: CEI's free-market guide to the information superhighway" is available for $5. CEI's monthly newsletter, "CEI UpDate," is free to contributors of $25.