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Federal
Register Watch by Mike Powers May
19 - 23, 2003
The Federal
Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules,
and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive
Orders and other Presidential Documents.
This column attempts to summarize the highlights (or lowlights)
of the Federal Register during the preceding week. Instructions
for subscribing to the Federal Register can be found at the end of the
column. MAY
20, 2003: INTERNATIONAL
TRADE ADMINISTRATION (ITA) –
ANTI-DUMPING
DUTIES ON SACCHARIN FROM CHINA The ITA announces its intention to impose “anti-dumping” duties on Chinese-produced saccharin that is imported to the United States and sold at “less than fair market value.” If the International Trade Commission (ITC) determines that these imports “threatening material injury to an industry in the United States,” the Department of Commerce will assess anti-dumping duties of 250% to 330% on all future Chinese saccharin imports! PMC Specialties Group, Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio, the petitioner for the anti-dumping investigation, is the only domestic manufacturer of saccharin. By petitioning the federal government, PMC Specialties Group, Inc. proves that government intervention in the market (on behalf of domestic producers) can, indeed, protect the interests of a select few manufacturers, at the expense of many consumers. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-12636.htm MAY
21, 2003: CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES ADMINISTRATION – On
October 29, 2002, President Bush signed into law the “Help America
Vote Act” to provide disabled individuals with greater access to, and
participation in, the election process. Authorized
uses of these state allotments include: making polling places accessible
to disabled individuals; providing disabled individuals with information
about the accessibility of polling places; and training election
officials and poll workers on how best to promote access and
participation by disabled individuals. Voting
is essential to legitimize the power of the State.
Elected officials will go to great lengths to ensure that
citizens are able to participate in the election process. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-12699.htm PRESIDENTIAL
DOCUMENTS –“WORLD
TRADE WEEK” President
Bush proclaims May 18-24, 2003, as “World
Trade Week,”
praising the benefits of free and open trade and how it contributes to
the prosperity of our nation and that of the global community. Meanwhile,
various administrative offices under the Department of Commerce impose tariffs,
duties, and quotas on thousands of imported goods to “protect”
domestic manufacturers and prevent “unfair competition” –
resulting in higher prices for these goods to the end user. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-12945.htm TRANSPORTATION
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION – September
11th Security Fees and Aviation Security Infrastructure Fees (ASIF) will
be temporarily suspended on
all airline tickets purchased between June 1, 2003, and September 30,
2003. The
“Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act,” an $80 billion
spending bill that authorized funding for the military operation in
Iraq, also provided $2.3 billion
in aid to the airline industry to offset losses related to the war
in Iraq. The
airline industry sought reductions in its tax burden, such as the tax on
jet fuel. Instead, they
received a taxpayer handout. Why
did legislators opt to provide a government handout to airlines instead
of reducing their tax burden? Simple.
They can take credit for the airline industry recovery if they
provide direct financial assistance.
They cannot take credit for a recovery that is aided by less
government intervention (i.e., lower taxes).
Besides, bureaucrats are generally unwilling to give up any
revenue stream by lowering taxes, no matter how obvious the benefits. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-12775.htm MAY
22, 2003: STATE
DEPARTMENT – ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT According
to the State Department, the
following countries are not cooperating with the United States
antiterrorism efforts: Cuba,
Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria. What
does that mean? Perhaps they
are potential targets for future "preemptive" strikes?
The "official" military hit list for the imperialist
U.S. war machine. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-12874.htm To
subscribe to the Federal Register Table of Contents LISTSERV electronic
mailing list, go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov
and select Online mailing list archives, FEDREGTOC-L, Join or leave the
list (or change settings); then follow the instructions. Link to the current edition of Federal Register Watch at www.strike-the-root.com/3/frw/frw.html
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