Here is the Heritage Take on the top issues today.Please reply to this email to arrange an interview.
Bloated bipartisan $1.1 trillion infrastructure bill is neither reasonable nor centrist <[link removed]> – President Biden says the tax increases would be borne by businesses and the rich, but raising taxes on businesses hurts all Americans, especially poor and working families. The simple fact is that companies have to pay for higher taxes somehow, and they usually do it by charging higher prices, lowering wages, or investing in operations and jobs overseas where taxes are cheaper. In the end, this massive two-bill package would increase costs for American families, chase jobs out of the country, add trillions to the debt, and
concentrate more power in the federal government. It’s filled with false promises of new “free” benefits that are only possible through higher costs and less liberty for every American. Heritage experts: Joel Griffith <[link removed]> and Rachel Greszler <[link removed]>
Biden’s Nonsensical Border COVID Policy Costs Lives <[link removed]> – The Biden administration’s position is that travelers from the U.K. and the EU, many of whom have been vaccinated or come from nations with reasonable health-care infrastructure, may not come to the U.S., even if they test negative for COVID. The administration has also kept our borders with Mexico and Canada closed for “non-essential” cross-border traffic, an issue adversely affecting border communities and prompting bipartisan action from officials such as Representative Henry Cuellar (D., Texas). Their outrage comes from the inconsistent, seemingly illogical application of restrictions against the backdrop of
these open-border policies. A fully vaccinated Mexican citizen coming to a legal point of entry is forbidden to enter, but an illegal alien family with COVID is rapidly released into the U.S. The administration will fly illegal aliens across the country on commercial airlines, even if their health status is unclear.
The Best U.S. Response to the Root Causes of Poverty in Central America <[link removed]> – The Biden Administration’s messaging and immigration policies are draining the Northern Triangle countries of able-bodied adults needed to work in their home countries. Rather than fixing the current self-created border crisis with sound policies that prevent further illegal immigration, the Biden–Harris approach is to divert attention by funding unproductive programs in the source countries in an attempt to address root causes. However, the Administration has misidentified several root causes, will waste American tax dollars, and will perpetuate current pull factors of illegal immigration, thereby undermining its self-claimed efforts to address root causes. Instead, the Administration should exercise the immense influence and power of the U.S. government and the U.S. military to fight against the external factors that are perpetuating poverty in the region—illegal immigration into the U.S. and transnational criminal organizations. Heritage expert: Lora Ries <[link removed]>

The Great Parent Revolt <[link removed]> – The bottom line is
that education in America will likely never be the same, thanks to the Great Parent Revolt of 2021, and that’s good news. For decades, many parents have outsourced the raising of their children to the schools, trusting that administrators, school board members, and teachers would share their values. We blindly believed that schools would care about our children as much as we do. We believed that if the teaching went astray, if the books were inappropriate, or if the civics and history were a little un-American, what we did at home would serve as a gentle correction and all would be well. The past two years have taught us how wrong we were. Thankfully parents are reengaging in their children’s education and reasserting their rightful place in decisions about curriculum and content. The question will be whether their efforts are strong enough and sufficiently sustained to win the battle against the radical tide of educators, nonprofits and federal education bureaucrats who are working to rewrite American history. Heritage expert: Katie Gorka <[link removed]>

Meet Chesa Boudin, the Rogue Prosecutor Wreaking Havoc in San Francisco <[link removed]> – Since taking office, Boudin has also been criticized for releasing suspects with long criminal records who have gone
on—surprise, surprise—to commit other crimes. Jerry Lyons had a record dating back to 2007, including charges of attempted robbery, burglary, evading police, driving a stolen vehicle, weapons charges, shoplifting, trespassing, and drug charges. Last December, Lyons, driving a stolen car, was observed
running a red light, making an illegal U-turn, driving over a traffic median, and weaving between two lanes. He was on supervised release for a theft case at that time. He was arrested for driving a stolen car and without a license and on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Boudin’s office insisted on getting the positive lab results back before charging Lyons, who had been released by the time those lab results were returned. On Jan. 22, an intoxicated Lyons, driving a stolen truck, ran a red light and plowed into eight cars, killing Sheria Musyoka, 26, and severely injuring three others. Heritage expert: Zack Smith <[link removed]>
Is a Free Cuba Possible? <[link removed]> – The U.S. should demand the immediate release of Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo and Louis Manuel Otero Alcantara, the leaders of the San Isidro Movement and the artists of “Patria y Vida,” as well as the hundreds of demonstrators who were arrested. The U.S. should form an international coalition of democratic nations that condemns communist Cuba for its crimes against humanity, past and present, and steps up international pressure for a free Cuba. It may seem that a Cuba libre is not possible, but we must remember East Germany and the boast of its communist boss that the wall would stand for another
century. The widespread July 11 demonstrations including the amazing popularity of “Patria y Vida” signaled that Cuba is at the beginning of the end of the communism that has oppressed it for six decades. Heritage expert: Lee Edwards <[link removed]>
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