June 28, 2013 1:35PM # *WSJ* Sets a Litmus Test for Corporate Welfare By [Sallie James](https://www.cato.org/people/sallie-james) --- SHARE The *Wall Street Journal* has a largely terrific [editorial](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323419604578569581625639700.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop) today on the [wasteful, inefficient, distortionary and unconstitutional Ex-Im Bank](https://www.cato.org/publications/trade-policy-analysis/time-x-out-exim-bank). I say “largely” because the editorial is rather meek in its recommendations, calling for “more oversight” and “limits” on the bank’s operations, rather than outright disbandment. But it’s a start, and might lend some momentum to [legislative efforts to terminate the bank entirely](http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/2263). The Ex-Im Bank itself is authorized until September 2014, but in the meantime a serious [spanner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrench) could be thrown in the works if, as the editorial suggests, the Ex-Im board is denied a quorum. While these sorts of micro-level shenanigans are, in my opinion, an inferior substitute for principled, thoughtful policymaking, it might at least go some way toward preventing the growth of the bank, especially while [Congress is so timid](https://www.cato.org/blog/eric-cantor-sprints-after-bolted-horse). Watch this space. ##### Related Tags [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy), [Trade Policy](https://www.cato.org/trade-policy), [Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies](https://www.cato.org/herbert-stiefel-center-trade-policy-studies) [![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).