Five Things You Need to Read Today

Here's your weekly update, for subscribers only, drawing your attention to five stories that are worth catching. This week, the main theme is the haphazard battle to reduce the scope of government regulation.

1. The (Tax) Law of Intended Consequences

I haven't commented yet on the tax bill just passed by the Senate, because there was an early proposal that was great--but was never going to make it. Now there's a final version that was cobbled together at the last minute, with hand-written edits being inserted into this behemoth just hours before the vote. And what emerges from the conference committee that attempts to reconcile the House and Senate version will also be different.

So I guess Republicans had to pass it so we could find out what's in it.

It will not surprise you, I hope, that Democrats are now suddenly outraged that anyone would pass a bill without reading it thoroughly--and that Republicans suddenly think this is just fine.

I certainly haven't read been able to read the bill, and I don't know what's in it. But here's one thing I can comment on.

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