Here is the Heritage Take on the top issues today.Please reply to this email to arrange an interview.
Mar-a-Lago Raid: "Imagine What They Think They Can Do to the Average American" <[link removed]>- The Mar-a-Lago raid represents yet another example of the federal government weaponizing law enforcement to punish political enemies, silence critics, and send a message to those whom it views as enemies. This raid of a former president’s home is unprecedented, and DOJ must release the search warrant affidavit as soon as possible to explain its justification for such an extreme action. The home of Bill and Hillary Clinton in NY was not searched, even after it was determined that the home contained a private server and that Hillary had received and sent classified information from that server when she was Secretary of State. In terms of the records she produced, Clinton said she “trusted others” to decide what was business-related and what was personal; her lawyers deleted 33,000 emails. She also directed people to destroy her devices, and her servers were wiped clean in a way that made it virtually impossible to retrieve. This was outrageous behavior, yet her home was not searched, and she was not charged. Heritage Expert: Hans von Spakovsky <[link removed]>
A New IRS Army of
87,000 New Enforcers and '700,000 New Audits' on Middle-Class Americans? <[link removed]> – Nothing in the legislation precludes this new army of agents from targeting small businesses and middle-class taxpayers. Audits will likely disproportionately target lower income earners. In fact, those earning less than 52,000 account for 62% of unreported taxes. In the past, most indivisible irs audits have hit taxpayers reporting less than $50k in adjusted gross income. Roughly 25 percent of the new audit collections could come at the expense of sole proprietors. Even if you’re paid taxes owed, an audit can easily cost $20k in legal and accounting fees- enough to put a family back financially for years. The IRS already has a dubious history of political corruption- it’s unwise to increase this force by more than 4x. Heritage Experts: Joel Griffith <[link removed]> and Preston Brashers <[link removed]>
Congress needs to take its role in inflation seriously <[link removed]> - If the bill were serious about reducing inflation, all its provisions would either increase taxes or reduce spending. However, about half the tax revenue projected to be raised is used to finance additional spending on items from the Green New Deal agenda. The Fed has raised rates by 75 basis points <[link removed]> over its last two meetings, but Congress can’t sit
back and expect the Fed to do all the work. High interest rates with large deficits will lead to explosive growth in debt. The Inflation Reduction Act fails to live up to its name and does nothing to address the excessive spending that is driving the federal government’s structural deficit. Heritage Experts: Parker Sheppard <[link removed]> and Richard Stern <[link removed]>
Non-citizens voting in California: Judge says no, even in left-wing state <[link removed]> – Fortunately, Judge Ulmer recognized that letting noncitizens – even illegal aliens <[link removed]> – vote was, itself, a lawless action. He noted that California’s "transcendent law" (i.e., the state constitution), "reserves the vote to a ‘United States citizen,’ contrary to [the] San Francisco ordinance ..." and concluded that the city’s effort "to give the California Constitution a different meaning is unavailing." To prove the absurdity of the city’s position, the judge pointed out that by the ordinance’s illogic, children under 18 and residents of other states could vote in California elections, which the California Constitution clearly prohibits. In addition to being unconstitutional, efforts to let non-citizens
vote <[link removed]> is bad policy. Aliens who remain legally bound by, and beholden to, the governments of their native lands should not be allowed to shape and mold our educational, law enforcement, and other policies potentially to the detriment of our country. Heritage Expert: Hans von Spakovsky <[link removed]>
The Navy’s Fleet Plan Has Two Strikes Against It <[link removed]> – he absence of a
permanent acquisition leader (the post is currently filled by its second temporary appointee) weakens the Navy’s political influence across the Defense Department and diminishes its ability to talk with Congress about shipbuilding and weapons procurement. This is particularly problematic now, when the Navy must soon decide on the next attack submarine, the next destroyer (to replace the Ticonderoga-class cruisers and succeed the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers), and what unmanned platforms will move into production. nd all the while, the danger of a conflict with China looms ever closer <[link removed]>. It is heartening that Congress has sought greater clarity from the Navy about its fleet needs for both peacetime competition and warfighting. It would be better if this report and the rationale for 373 ships could be shared openly. And better still to have a Navy acquisition chief in place to ensure those requirements are adequately resourced and met. Heritage Expert: Brent Sadler <[link removed]>
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