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Biden’s $15 Minimum Wage for Federal Workers, Contractors Is Futile – Unable to force a $15 federal minimum wage across the entire country, the Biden administration issued an executive order, now implemented, requiring a $15 minimum wage for all federal workers and federal contractors. While the federal government can avoid some of the harmful effects of wage-setting by politicians, this executive order may provide a temporary—though limited—dose of economic reality. Federal departments are likely to have to cut back on services and on needed modernizations. Basing pay on anything other than productivity is not only bad for business, it’s also bad for employee morale. Heritage Expert: Rachel Greszler
Big Board, DC Restaurant Closed by City Over Vaccine Mandate, Fights to Reopen – Eric Flannery, co-owner of The Big Board restaurant in Washington, D.C., is threatening to sue the city government for forcing his restaurant to close two weeks ago. The Big Board also had its liquor license revoked on Jan. 28 for repeated noncompliance with the city’s now-rescinded vaccine mandate requirements for restaurants. A few days later, on Feb. 3, The Big Board closed its doors. In January, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser instituted a vaccine mandate, ordering bars and restaurants to ask patrons to prove they received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or to show a negative COVID-19 test result. On Feb. 14, Bowser rescinded that order. However, Flannery’s restaurant remains closed. These mandates continue to show the Democrats’ inappropriate overreach of government decision-making. Our nation has dealt with other pandemics, including polio and smallpox for which we have vaccines, without ever imposing a general vaccine mandate. Heritage Expert: Douglas Blair
Student Loan Repayments Resume in May. But Who’s Paying? – President Biden says that student loan payments, which federal officials paused during the pandemic, will resume in May. With little more than two months to go, however, his administration is doing everything it can to make the process of meeting this deadline look impossible – both for students and the Department of Education. Do not be fooled: The May deadline cannot come soon enough for middle- and low-income taxpayers, who are among those who will be on the hook for $1.6 trillion in unpaid loans if borrowers are not required to repay. The bulk of loan debt is held by students in graduate schools, along with students from wealthier families. Many are looking forward to drawing substantial paychecks in law and medicine once they graduate. Heritage Expert: Jonathan Butcher
Congressman Demands Answers After Whistleblowers Allege Nurse Performed Abortions With Expired License, Turned ‘Blind Eye’ to Sex Trafficking – Rep. Ted Budd of North Carolina is demanding explanations from the North Carolina Board of Nursing following reports that a nurse performed abortions after her medical license had expired and turned “a blind eye” to the sex trafficking of underage girls. The Daily Signal first obtained a copy of the Stopping Traffickers and Their Accomplices Act of 2022 in late January, legislation which requires that abortion providers notify the National Human Trafficking Hotline no later than 24 hours after consulting with a patient if they have “a reasonable suspician that the patient is a victim of trafficking.” Should the bill be enacted into law, those abortion providers who violate the act could be fined $10,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both Heritage Expert: Mary Margaret Olohan
Louisville Community Bail Fund says it will post bond for accused shooter Quintez Brown – What’s shocking is that given the facts of the situation, BLM Louisville is posting bail for Quintez Brown. In fact, when a local reporter spoke to the leaders of the organization, they were heading to the bank to get a cashiers check to post his bail. Unfortunately, this echos earlier misguided bail-fund efforts (including ones promoted by VP Harris) that have led to disastrous results. For example, one individual the Minnesota Freedom Fund provided bail for, was later charged with murder for shooting someone. The Freedom Fund provided bail to him in a domestic assault case. He was barred from possessing firearms due to previous convictions. The bottom line is that if someone poses a danger to the community, it is appropriate for that individual to be detained pending trial. Heritage Expert: Zack Smith
How the U.S. Should Help Defend Ukraine – Russia so far has not launched a further invasion of Ukraine like some reports were saying would happen today. Today was declared the “Day of Unity” by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy; the national anthem played around the country in multiple settings to unite the people. Ukraine encountered the largest distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) cyberattack in its history last night, most likely launched by Russia. The attack was attempted on the Ukrainian banking sector, official government websites, the power block, and the Diia portal (which allows access to over 50 governmental services), but was prevented. The U.S. government has relaxed Covid entry requirements for some people who have evacuated Ukraine for the United States (this applies to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and a couple other groups). Russia reportedly has built a military-style pontoon bridge near Chernobyl on the Pripyat River, connecting Belarus and Ukraine in a way where Russia’s 30,000 troops in Belarus could more easily move south to Ukraine. Supposedly President Biden held a phone call with German Chancellor Scholz today, but no details of it have been released. Moscow announced yesterday it would be drawing down some of its troops from the Ukrainian border, but so far we see no evidence of this occurring. In fact, it appears that Russia is doing the opposite, continuing to add critical forces to its already ~130,000-150,000 troops present. Heritage Expert: Alexis Mrachek
Israel’s Laser Missile Defenses Show Promise for the Future – Israel’s new laser system, referred to as the “Iron Beam” project, could provide a cost-effective way to bolster Israel’s preexisting missile defenses. Fielding these weapons may require a high investment up front, but once deployed, could intercept short-range missile and rocket threats. The promise of advanced missile defense technologies is clear, and the U.S. must ensure it does not miss a potential game-changing opportunity. Heritage Expert: Patty-Jane Geller