The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that the European Union and the United States have again chosen different paths regarding free trade, this time with South Korea. However, for once it’s old Europe that wants to boost economic output by lowering barriers. Meanwhile, in the formerly free market U.S., a Congress beholden to Big Labor throws up roadblocks.

Under normal circumstances, documented support for radical and discredited population control methods would probably disqualify someone from holding a position of scientific authority like, for instance, “science czar.” Not so in Barack Obama’s administration.

Enjoy a compilation of some interesting reads from around the web:   Supply-side conservatives unite: Senate Weighs Medicare Tax on Capital Gains to Fund Health Plan.   Some historical perspective on the healthcare debate by Kimberly Strassel: Potomac Watch.

It’s been a strange and troubling few weeks for advocates of lower taxes and limited government. Nancy Pelosi successfully rammed what may be the largest tax hike in American history through the House of Representatives. Two rapidly rising stars in the GOP have unexpectedly tumbled back to Earth. And a federally-funded special interest power grab looms over the health care system.

Beneath the surface of a Cap and Tax debate that has only just begun to rage in this country, a basic premise is largely being taken for granted. Prominent fixtures of the political class, from Al Gore to Newt Gingrich to John McCain, have accepted and declared as fact that the Earth is getting warmer, the icecaps are getting smaller, carbon is to blame, and only government can save the day.

New FreedomWorks member and geophysicist, Dennis Henke of Wichita, KS is testifying today before the EPA at a hearing about the regulation of CO2 - carbon dioxide, gas we all exhale and that the EPA recently declared to be a harmful greenhouse gas worthy of regulation under the Clean Air Act.    In a press release, Henke points out the faulty science and poor logic behind the ruling.

If you've been paying attention to what's going on in Washington recently, you've probably heard the word "reconciliation".  What is it?  It's a legislative process intended to allow a budget bill to be considered without filibuster.  In the Senate, it restricts debate to 20 hours and amendments are limited.  Without the option of filibuster, a bill in the Senate would only require 51 votes to pass.  A super majority of 60 votes is required to end a filibuster to move legislation normally.