Debt / Economy / Technology

Stablecoin Issuers as a Growing Class of Treasury Buyers: Implications and Risks

Executive Summary  Introduction  Congress’ recent passage of the GENIUS Act, the first significant regulatory framework for stablecoins, opens the door for increased crossover between traditional finance and cryptocurrency, or decentralized finance. The law sets a framework for future stablecoin regulation and prohibits interest-bearing stablecoins and prevents big tech and retail firms from issuing stablecoins without … Continue reading

Gridlock ahead? Driving innovation in the autonomous vehicle market
Technology

Gridlock ahead? Driving innovation in the autonomous vehicle market

Executive Summary  Introduction  On May 20, robotaxi company Waymo announced that 10 million driverless rides had been purchased across four U.S. cities. Autonomous vehicle (AV) technology has the potential to reorder the future, improving safety and saving time and money for American consumers. However, this promising technology is impeded by a challenging regulatory environment in … Continue reading

Politics

Securing Critical Supply Chains: How New Regulations Are Shaping the Future

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  Introduction  Today’s globalized economy is built on the backbone of global supply chains and as innovations in research, development, and manufacturing boom, the importance of the semiconductor industry in driving advances in technology for the industry 4.0 (fourth industrial revolution) has led to a rapid growth in demand and increasingly strained supply chains. … Continue reading

Regulation

Searching for Common Ground between Energy Security and Environmental Justice 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on February 7, 2023, titled Unleashing American Energy, Lowering Energy Costs, and Strengthening Supply Chains. During this hearing, the committee discussed 17 proposed bills. Several bills aim to remediate shortages and high prices by addressing the importance of American energy by creating waivers to … Continue reading

Trump’s Overtime Protection Rule: A Smart Rule for Workers
Politics

Trump’s Overtime Protection Rule: A Smart Rule for Workers

The Trump Administration’s Overtime Protection Rule In March of 2019, the Department of Labor issued a proposed rule to update and extended eligibility for overtime pay for employees that do not perform managerial, executive, or administrative taks. The proposed rule, Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees, mandates … Continue reading

Economic Freedom Series: Why Do I need a Prescription for Contact Lenses?
Economy / Healthcare / Regulation

Economic Freedom Series: Why Do I need a Prescription for Contact Lenses?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) have infringed upon my economic liberties. Collectively, these government bodies created an inefficient marketplace that burdens contact lens retailers and consumers. In hopes of curtailing market power granted to contact lens prescribers by FDA regulation, the FTC designed the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumer Act … Continue reading

Can Oil and Gas, Government, and Environmentalists Work Together?
Energy / Environment

Can Oil and Gas, Government, and Environmentalists Work Together?

It must be frustrating for President Obama when his policies make no one happy. Recently the administration announced plans to regulate methane emissions, and while the oil and gas industry grumbled about new regulations and added costs, environmental groups complained the new measures don’t go far enough. Is it possible for policymakers to appease environmental … Continue reading

U.S. Businesses Dodging Taxes?  IRS Pulls Reins Tighter
Economy / Regulation / Tax / Taxes

U.S. Businesses Dodging Taxes? IRS Pulls Reins Tighter

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Department of Treasury issued a Notice (Notice 2014-52) last Monday that would further their efforts to prevent U.S. companies from using an increasingly prevalent tactic known as inversion to lower their tax bill. Conventionally, an inversion is a negotiation in which a U.S. multinational company restructures with a foreign … Continue reading