Daren Bakst
Heritage Foundation
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Daren:
Supreme Court Should End Federal Government’s Water Overreach
For decades, there’s been confusion regarding what waters are regulated under the Clean Water Act. As a result, property owners sometimes unwittingly find themselves facing civil and criminal penalties because they didn’t secure a permit for engaging even in normal activities like farming or homebuilding. → Read More
Biden’s Food Conference Should Put People First, Not Environmental Extremism
The Biden administration should ensure the correct focus of a conference it will host next Wednesday on food-related issues such as nutrition and access to food. → Read More
Who Gets Hurt From High Gas and Diesel Prices? There’s More Harm Than You Think.
High gas and diesel prices like those we are experiencing now have sweeping negative economic effects on Americans. Beyond the financial hit at the pump, the economic harm is inflicted in many ways that may not be evident to most. → Read More
Inflation Reduction Act Shows Far Left’s Extremism and Elitism
Last Friday, the House passed the misleadingly named “Inflation Reduction Act,” a massive tax and spend bill that illustrates just how extreme and out of touch the left has become. The vote was along party lines, as it was in the Senate, with no Republicans voting for the bill. → Read More
“Inflation Reduction Act” Is Euphemism for Big Government Socialism, Higher Prices
In the midst of a recession, with inflation eating away an average of $6,800 in purchasing power from the incomes of families with two workers, the so-called Inflation Reduction Act would impose tax increases, manipulative federal subsidies, and price controls on every American family. The bill would deepen the growing recession, continue to depress household incomes, and will continue to… → Read More
School Meals Bill Serves Up 2 Unappetizing Helpings of Left’s Agenda
The House Committee on Education and Labor is expected this week to consider legislation known as the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act.HR 8450 is a far-left wish list, seeking to expand welfare for all through universal free school meals and trying to use the school meals programs as a pretext to push far-left environmental, labor, and social justice policies. There are many egregious provisions… → Read More
Ruling in West Virginia v. EPA Scores Win for Representative Government
Under the U.S. Constitution, only Congress possesses federal lawmaking power. But anyone familiar with the massive administrative state might question whether that’s true in practice. After all, federal agencies make a habit of acting as though there’s a special lawmaking power just for bureaucrats. → Read More
The Devastating Impact of Rising Food Prices on Americans
The following is adapted from the author’s June 14, 2022, testimony before the Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee. The story on food prices keeps getting worse. → Read More
Congress Must Protect Innocent Property Owners from Section 404 Civil and Criminal Penalties
For decades, property owners across the United States have struggled to comply with the Clean Water Act (CWA), → Read More
Price Controls on Fuel Would Be Disastrous for Americans
In classic Washington style, liberals in Congress are advancing a bill that most assuredly would make a bad situation much worse. In response to soaring fuel prices, liberals seek to shift blame away from Bidenflation and onto producers through the so-called Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act. A more appropriate title would be the “Driving Up Prices and Fuel Rationing Act,” because that… → Read More
How Policymakers Can Address Baby Formula Shortage
As too many American families know from firsthand experience, there’s a baby formula shortage in the United States. While some politicians will surely view the situation as “not letting a crisis go to waste,” this is a time for immediate and thoughtful solutions that address the actual problems. There isn’t a magic bullet to address the shortage, but if government at all levels (federal, state,… → Read More
Washington Can Ease Food Inflation and Global Food Shortages
Food prices are rising at rates not seen in over 40 years. But skyrocketing prices are not the only food issue that should concern U.S. policymakers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could lead to global food shortages. While the U.S. doesn’t rely on Russia or Ukraine for food, many countries—such as those in North Africa and the Middle East—do. If they are unable to import food from them, this… → Read More
Food Price Inflation Continues to Worsen. Here’s What Should Be Done About It.
Food prices are continuing to rise at an alarming rate. The 8.8% year-over-year increase (March 2022 compared with March 2021) is the largest in more than 40 years. Over the past seven months, each month’s year-over-year food price increase has been above 4% and each successive month has been higher than the previous month (starting at 4.6% in September and reaching 8.8% in March). → Read More
Reinstated Trump Water Rule Could Help Economy Grow
The Supreme Court recently reinstated a Clean Water Act regulation by the Trump administration that helps to prevent states from using reasons other than water quality, such as climate change, to block critical infrastructure and energy projects. → Read More
3 Recent Examples of Government’s Environmental Extremism
Environmental extremism in government is increasingly becoming unhinged, both domestically and internationally. Here are three recent examples of this extremism: 1. John Kerry, the Biden administration’s special presidential envoy for climate, has made alarming remarks regarding climate change and the war in Ukraine. → Read More
What the U.S. Should Do Now to Minimize the Risk of Global Food Shortages
Russia’s ongoing military campaign against Ukraine—which is threatening the upcoming harvest and planting seasons and has elevated prices for natural gas, which is used in manufacturing fertilizer—has raised concerns about a global food shortage. Pre-existing complications, such as lowered production and disrupted supply chains arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, have also contributed to these… → Read More
Hungering for Relief From Rapid Rise in Food Prices? Don’t Look to Biden
The Bureau of Labor Statistics last week released the Consumer Price Index data for February, and it shows prices continuing to increase at an alarming rate, including for food. → Read More
The Biden Administration’s Shocking Scientific Abuses at EPA
The Biden administration and its Environmental Protection Agency are continuing their attack on sound science and undermining faith in the regulatory process. → Read More
Supreme Court Can and Should Resolve “Waters of the United States” Issue
For decades, there has been major confusion regarding what waters are regulated under the Clean Water Act. → Read More
We Shouldn’t Allow Progressives to Limit Participation in Regulatory Process
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has introduced legislation that would game the nation’s regulatory system. Under her bill, regulations primarily would be based on studies that support expanding the regulatory power of government agencies. → Read More