Here is the Heritage Take on the top issues today.
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"Freedom to Vote" Act Includes Worst Provisions of HR 1 – This is not a “compromise;” it includes the worst and most dangerous provisions of HR 1 such as the gutting of voter ID laws and then adds even more provisions to make it easy to cheat and to manipulate election results. The newest sections are clearly intended to make fraud impossible to detect by restricting election audits; preventing poll observers from being able to effectively monitor the election process; and criminalizing the ability of citizens to investigate the administration of their elections and question election officials about their conduct and potential misbehavior. Heritage expert: Hans von Spakovsky
Biden on Energy Crisis: Begging Others to Save Him From Himself – For Americans still struggling, it must be jarring that the White House chief of staff thinks rising grocery bills—driven by fuel prices and inflation—are “high-class problems.” Such a callous dismissal of real-world issues, the endorsement of an Ivy League elitist view that working people are just imagining things, simply feeds the prevailing belief that Biden simply is bad at his job. But rather than face reporters or describe to Americans what he’s doing to combat these severe economic problems—and all of the other crises he’s inflicted on the country—Biden has almost entirely avoided taking questions. On the rare occasions that he comes to the cameras to deliver remarks, most often he finishes speaking, turns around abruptly, and returns to the recesses of the White House. It’s an apt image presented by an administration that is usually very concerned about visuals and symbolism. Biden is leaving the lasting impression that, as he does to members of the press, he is simply turning his back on the American people. Heritage expert: Tim Murtaugh
Why Are Left-Wing Lawmakers OK With $3.5 Trillion Tax-and-Spend Bill Boosting Health Insurers’ Profits? – For liberal lawmakers, at least to judge from their rhetoric, voting for more profits for the health insurance industry should be problematic. Apparently, it isn’t. It turns out that they can support arrangements that enlarge government control, even if that control benefits big corporations and their CEOs. The medical industry has consistently partnered with liberals on the Affordable Care Act. The industry embraced Obamacare’s creation and, except for the pharmaceutical sector, opposed its repeal, endorsed temporary subsidy expansions, and now backs enlarging them and making them permanent. Left-wing lawmakers are effectively the allies of big insurance. Sen. Sanders and like-minded Democratic members of Congress malign the health insurance industry on their Twitter feeds. But when it comes time to vote, it’s a good bet they will once again side with the industry they have vowed to destroy. Heritage expert: Doug Badger
Bidens seen violating DC’s indoor mask mandate at pricey restaurant – This tool is not about playing a political game of “Gotcha!” It is about protecting and restoring confidence in our governing institutions — a confidence that has been especially shredded by many leaders’ response to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s not too much ask that these officials display the most basic sense of integrity. And it is only appropriate that we call them out when they stubbornly refuse to do so. Millions of Americans have heard the phrase “we’re all in this together” for months from corporate advertisers, friends on social media and, of course, government officials. If the behavior of our elected leaders is any indication, however, it would seem that many of them have chosen to live by another phrase: “YOU’RE all in this together.” Heritage expert: Joel Griffith
Rogue Prosecutor Steve Descano Cuts Sweetheart Deal with Child Molester – Do voters in Fairfax County, Virginia, really want their rogue prosecutor, Steve Descano, cutting sweetheart deals with child molesters? If not, that’s too bad, because that’s exactly what he’s doing. And it’s not the first time he’s advocated for soft-on-crime plea deals over the vociferous objections of the victims and their families. In this latest instance, he cut a lenient deal with one defendant who the judge overseeing the case called the “worst kind of predator.” After all, the man molested a “young relative when she was between the ages of 5 and 10,” including “a years-long stretch when the abuse occurred at least weekly.” Just how bad was the deal? The judge told the victim, “Make no mistake . . . [y]our government has failed you.” More accurately, Descano failed in his duty to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Heritage expert: Zack Smith
Equity Elementary: “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” Staff in Public Schools – An analysis of student test-score data shows that employing a chief diversity officer (CDO) in K–12 school districts does not contribute to closing achievement gaps and is even likely to exacerbate those gaps. If CDOs are not accomplishing their stated goals, what is accomplished by creating these positions? CDOs may be best understood as political activists who articulate and enforce an ideological orthodoxy within school districts. They help to mobilize and strengthen the political influence of one side. The creation of CDOs tilts the political playing field against parent and teacher efforts to remove the radical ideology of critical race theory and other illiberal ideals from school curricula and practices. Heritage expert: Jay Greene
U.S. must defend Taiwan’s independence – There is little likelihood of a shooting war between Communist China and America over Taiwan. President Xi is stoking national fervor on the mainland to consolidate his hold on power. But Beijing is testing the U.S. will as part of its long-range objective of replacing the United States as the world’s leading superpower. If we do not respond appropriately, such as conspicuously displaying American strength in the South China Sea, China will step up the pressure on Taiwan. These are the times that test a nation’s will. Taiwan President Tsai has often observed that there is no reason to declare Taiwan’s independence because it is already independent. Defending its prerogative to determine its own future free of Chinese coercion is in America’s national interest. And it is in keeping with our ideals as well. What we do will be noted closely by friends and allies as well as adversaries around the world. Heritage expert: Lee Edwards
Thomas Jefferson Latest Target in War on History. New York City Council Votes to Remove His Statue From City Hall. – The only way now to stop this movement is the kind of democratic action that we’ve seen at school board meetings in resistance to critical race theory and other radicalism in the past year. It’s up to regular people and communities outside the deep blue parts of this country who make up the real majority that still exists in America. We have to protect and build on our history. When a statue is torn down, build another one in another city in defiance. The only way the war on history ends is when Americans begin to put their foot down and say “no” to the absurd demands. We need to go out and explain to our friends and neighbors why the ideas and people who built this country were great and worth defending, and why we should look to build on what they accomplished rather than reducing everything to rubble and hoping something good can emerge from the ashes. The New York City Council may be tearing down statues. It’s our job to now start building more up and furthering the profound and true ideas that Jefferson stood for. Heritage expert: Jarrett Stepman
11 More Reasons Biden Administration Is Wrong About Onerous Gun Restrictions – Whether at home or in public, Americans’ meaningful ability to invoke their natural right of self-defense is one of the most important aspects to our free republic. Policies that arbitrarily strip this ability from all but a select few aren’t “reasonable regulations,” but gross violations of both an enumerated constitutional right and natural law. At the same time, such policies leave ordinary citizens largely defenseless in the face of attacks on life, liberty, and property, failing to further the public safety interest the government so often invokes to justify these policies. The public is not rendered “safer” when citizens are disarmed, but rendered only more vulnerable to (and powerless against) those who would do them harm. Heritage expert: Amy Swearer