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Big Government Policies That Hurt the Poor and How to Address Them Edited by Daren Bakst and Patrick Tyrrell  SPECIAL REPORT No. 176 | APRIL 5, 2017 Big Government Policies that Hurt the Poor and How to Address Them Edited by Daren Bakst and Patrick Tyrrell Big Government Policies that Hurt the Poor and How to Address Them Edited by Daren Bakst and Patrick Tyrrell SR-176 About the Authors Daren Bakst is Research Fellow in Agricultural Policy in the Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Romina Boccia is Grover M. Hermann Research Fellow in Federal Budgetary Affairs and Deputy Director in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Salim Furth, PhD, is a Research Fellow in Macroeconomics in the Center for Data Analysis, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Rachel Greszler is Senior Policy Analyst in Economics and Entitlements in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, of the Institute for Economic Freedom and Opportunity, at The Heritage Foundation. Jamie Bryan Hall is a Senior Policy Analyst in the Center for Data Analysis, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Nicolas D. Loris is Herbert and Joyce Morgan Research Fellow in Energy and Environmental Policy in the Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Norbert J. Michel, PhD, is a Research Fellow in Financial Regulations in the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Bryan Riley is Jay Van Andel Senior Analyst in Trade Policy in the Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. James M. Roberts is Research Fellow for Economic Freedom and Growth in the Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Jason Snead is a Policy Analyst in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies, of the Institute for Constitutional Government, at The Heritage Foundation. Katie Tubb is a Policy Analyst in Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. Patrick Tyrrell is Research Coordinator in the Center for Free Markets and Regulatory Reform, of the Institute for Economic Freedom, at The Heritage Foundation. This paper, in its entirety, can be found at: http://report.heritage.org/sr176 The Heritage Foundation 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 546-4400 | heritage.org Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress. SPECIAL REPORT | NO. 176 APRIL 5, 2017 Table of Contents Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................1 I. Energy and Environmental Policy ......................................................................................................................... 3 Climate Change Regulations .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Energy-Efficiency Regulations for Appliances ................................................................................................................. 3 Fuel-Efficiency Mandates and Tier 3 Gas Regulations ................................................................................................. 4 Ozone .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Renewable Fuel Standard .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Tennessee Valley Authority ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 II. Food and Agricultural Policy.................................................................................................................................. 7 Federal Sugar Program ................................................................................................................................................................7 Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Orders .................................................................................................................................7 USDA Catfish Inspection Program ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Soda Taxes ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 III. International Trade and Economics ................................................................................................................ 10 International Monetary Fund Bailouts ............................................................................................................................. 10 Import Restraints on Food and Clothing .......................................................................................................................... 11 Jones Act .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 IV. Labor and Employment .......................................................................................................................................... 13 High Minimum Wages .............................................................................................................................................................. 13 Occupational Licensure .............................................................................................................................................................14 Hair Brading ...........................................................................................................................................................................14 Sidewalk Vending .................................................................................................................................................................14 Shoe Shining ...........................................................................................................................................................................15 Dental Hygienist ...................................................................................................................................................................15 V. Property Rights ........................................................................................................................................................... 18 Economic-Development Takings .......................................................................................................................................... 18 Home Sharing ............................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Rent Control ...................................................................................................................................................................................19 Smart Growth ................................................................................................................................................................................19 iii BIG GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT HURT THE POOR AND HOW TO ADDRESS THEM VI. Miscellaneous ............................................................................................................................................................ 21 CPFB Payday-Lender Rules .....................................................................................................................................................21 Day-Care Regulations ................................................................................................................................................................21 Ridesharing Regulations ..........................................................................................................................................................22 State-Sanctioned Lottery Monopolies ...............................................................................................................................23 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Endnotes ............................................................................................................................................................................ 25 iv SPECIAL REPORT | NO. 176 APRIL 5, 2017 Big Government Policies that Hurt the Poor and How to Address Them Edited by Daren Bakst and Patrick Tyrrell oncern for the poor is often equated with of the policies drive up consumer prices,
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