Here is the Heritage Take on the top issues today.Please reply to this email to arrange an interview.
Heritage Expert Responds To White House Finally Calling Border Crisis a “Crisis” <[link removed]> – What’s happening at the border is undoubtedly a crisis – a fact that has been clear to the American people for some time. It’s encouraging that the White House press secretary, who speaks on behalf of the president of the United States, chose to call it a crisis today, as well. Hopefully this rhetoric turns to swift action in securing our border, deporting those here illegally, and enforcing our laws.

The border mess is only going to get worse <[link removed]> – Here is the good news: As long as Congress can be stopped from making amnesty and open borders the law of the land, this is all fixable. Biden has demonstrated that not enforcing the law is a disaster, but — as the last president showed — even under existing law the border can be made secure, and we can deport our way out of this problem. The bottom line is we’ve learned it takes a president to make a border a real border, and it will take a president to end the crisis we’re now facing. Too bad the current one is showing no desire to do so. Heritage expert: Lora Ries <[link removed]> and Jim Carafano <[link removed]>

Refutes Sen. Warren’s Absurd Comments on Senate Filibuster <[link removed]> – Democrats want to eliminate the filibuster to pass HR 1—an unconstitutional federal takeover of our election system that would threaten to dilute the vote of every American, including women and minorities. It would allow more fraud and abuse into the election system and would encourage more illegal votes to cancel out legal ones. A secure and fair election system is not a threat to black voters; instead, it’s a promise to black voters and to all voters that no matter their political perspective, their votes will be counted and not canceled. HR 1 would destroy that promise—a promise that my family and so many Americans fought so hard to achieve during the civil rights movement. HR 1 doesn’t protect our right to vote; it only protects the power of Democratic politicians. Heritage expert: Tom Jipping <[link removed]>

Violence Is Out of Control in Portland. Maybe Defunding Police Wasn’t Such a Great Idea. <[link removed]> –  It seemed the left-wing radicals who had provoked so many violent incidents around the city weren’t too keen on having a “dialogue.” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler came out and condemned
the violence. “The community is sick and tired of people engaging in criminal destruction and violence and doing it under the guise of some noble cause,” Wheeler said in a Monday press conference, according to The Associated Press. But riots and vandalism aren’t the only issues facing Portland,
and it’s hard not to see the policies and rhetoric of Wheeler and other Portland leaders as at least part of the problem. In 2020, the city was hit with its highest number of homicides, 52, in 27 years, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The trend isn’t abating. Heritage expert: Jarrett Stepman <[link removed]>


Biden to Reach 100 Million Vaccinations Goal Six Weeks Early <[link removed]> – Here's a better way to put this story: President Biden followed the Trump administration's plan to immunize 100 million people in far
less than 100 days by distributing the vaccines the Trump administration ordered. In order to take 100 days to administer 100 million doses, the Biden administration would have had to slow down the rate of immunizations administered in the week prior to his inauguration. Not to mention that 100 million vaccines in 100 days is an old goal. President Biden changed his estimate on the possible vaccinations three times in six days in January. Heritage expert: Doug Badger <[link removed]>

How Equality Act Could Become Classroom Bully With Biased, Unscientific Curriculum <[link removed]> – The Equality Act also expands the definition of “public accommodation” under
federal law, and recipients of any federal funding—such as schools—would be directly affected by the act if it becomes law. It has already passed the House of Representatives. Plenty of ink has been spilled on the disastrous consequences the Equality Act would have on the administration of school sports, locker rooms, and bathrooms. But what of the curriculum the Equality Act might force schools to teach? Could it compel teachers to
peddle unscientific notions that gender is “fluid,” or that a student’s subjective self-identity is superior to the biological reality of his or her chromosomal makeup? Unfortunately, due to some legal sleight of hand, the answer is very likely “yes.” Heritage expert: Sarah Perry <[link removed]>

Biden’s Proposed Tax Increases Would Be Largest Since LBJ’s in 1968 <[link removed]> – The
tax increases now under consideration are just the start. In the absence of spending reform, taxes will have to increase much higher than is currently being proposed—and not just tax increases on the “rich.” Just look to Europe, where funding big government requires high taxes on everyone. In fact, it is mathematically impossible to pay for significantly larger government with tax increases
only on high-income earners and corporations. That’s why a lower-income European earning $40,000 pays $6,000 more in taxes—an extra 15% of their income—than they would in America. If Congress wants to help more Americans find jobs and economic opportunity, they should focus on constraining spending growth and keeping taxes low, rather than hiking taxes on the economic
recovery. Heritage expert: Adam Michel <[link removed]>
Democrats Ready to Railroad Huge Infrastructure Boondoggle <[link removed]> – Rather than furthering the delusion that Washington can solve all of the nation’s problems, Congress should instead reduce federal
micromanagement of infrastructure projects. Providing state and local governments with more freedom to fund and build what they need would mean we can get more done, faster, and with the same amount of money (or less). In the meantime, Americans should recognize that despite the statement made by Pelosi, plans
are well underway to ram another budget-busting bill through Congress, regardless of whether it has bipartisan support. Heritage expert: David Ditch <[link removed]>

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