Just another reason to lay off the soda pop. Parents recently filed suit against Coca-Cola asking that the company eliminate ingredients from their products that can form the known-carcinogen benzene. From Consumer Reports: Also on Friday, a lawsuit over benzene was settled involving two smaller companies, Atlanta-based Zone Brands Inc. and Preston, Wash.-based Talking Rain Beverage Co., according to news reports. The companies reportedly denied that their products caused harm, but they had already agreed to change their ingredients.

In a column for WorkingForChange, Bill Berkowitz compiles a pretty damning case against Susan Dudley. Berkowitz interviews a variety of advocates for public health, safety and the environment, all of whom express deep concerns about the nomination: "If Dudley is confirmed by the Senate, she will further strip them of their ability to stand up to government secrecy, politicization and corporate interests," said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. "Throughout her career, Dudley has consistently fought against government safeguards and advocated a radical, hands-off approach.

Be sure to check out the latest issue of our biweekly newsletter, The Watcher. Reg policy articles this time: Bush Nominates Anti-Regulatory Zealot to Head Regulatory Policy Sunset Legislation Delayed Until September

Be sure to check out Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal on the Dudley nomination. DeLong supports the role of cost-benefit analysis in regulatory decisionmaking, but he is nonetheless not a kindred spirit of Dudley: I had always thought that the benefit-cost ratio from flame-retardant pajamas was high. The fact that Susan Dudley sees this as an example of government overreach.... As someone who believes in getting the benefit-cost analysis right, I find this... disturbing.