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Republicans Who Voted for Radical ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Can Still Change Course <[link removed]> - Twelve Republican lawmakers voted for advancing the Respect for Marriage Act: <[link removed]> Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Richard Burr of North Carolina, Shelley Capito of West Virginia, Susan Collins of Maine, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mitt Romney of Utah, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Todd Young of Indiana. Many of these lawmakers claim that the much-discussed legislation protects
religious liberty. But opponents of the bill warn <[link removed]> that it “puts a giant target on people of faith.” The legislation repeals the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, obliges those “acting under color of state law” to recognize same-sex marriages, and orders the federal government to recognize marriages that are deemed valid by one or more
states. Heritage Expert: Jay Richards <[link removed]> and Emma Waters <[link removed]>
 
America must stand up to China’s crackdown on freedom <[link removed]> - It’s unlikely that President Joe Biden <[link removed]> brought up the name Jimmy Lai in his recent conversation with China’s communist dictator, Xi Jinping. At least the records don’t show it. But Lai’s impending trial in Hong Kong represents a classic showdown between a tireless defender of freedom and a brutal regime. Lai poses no threat to China’s national security, only to the CCP’s lust for absolute power. Both Lai and Xi are obsessed with liberty — Jimmy with expanding it and Xi with crushing it. After all other publications bent a knee to Beijing following the ‘97 handover, Jimmy’s Apple Daily empire continued to advocate continuing Hong Kong’s free way of life. No tyrant can live alongside the free flow of information. Heritage Expert: Mike
Gonzalez  <[link removed]>
It’s time for pro-life policy-makers to go on offense <[link removed]> - The GOP finally managed to take control of the House of Representatives. So, what should pro-life lawmakers do to advance their cause in the next Congress? They don’t have to reach for the full pro-life enchilada, where every person is protected and welcomed in both life and law, on day one. Even the next-best goal, legislation to protect unborn human beings after a heartbeat is detected, would be a massive uphill battle. After all, Joe Biden is still in the White House, and the Senate presents its own challenges. But pro-lifers in the House need to do everything they can to advance the ball and, importantly, expose the soft pro-abortion underbelly — which now tolerates even infanticide. Heritage Expert: Jay Richards <[link removed]> and Emma Waters <[link removed]>
Denying economic reality doesn’t help struggling Americans <[link removed]> -Polls show economic concerns were dominant for many Americans this election season. Unfortunately, voters couldn’t always count on getting accurate reporting about these issues. Consider a Washington Post article titled “7 ways a recession could be good for you financially.” A closer look at these seven claims reveals just how wrong—or at least highly
misleading—financial reporting can be. Heritage Expert: EJ Antoni <[link removed]> and Joel Griffith <[link removed]>
The Gaping Logic Hole in the Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review <[link removed]> - The Biden administration’s decision to cancel the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) has been hotly debated since it was announced in
April. The recently released Nuclear Posture Review only casts further doubt on the decision. Initially proposed in 2018, the missile was one of two new capabilities intended to address the growing disparity in tactical nuclear weapons <[link removed]> between the United States and its adversaries. The other new capability, a low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile called the W76-2, has already been deployed <[link removed]>. Heritage Expert: Patty-Jane Geller <[link removed]>
As The Dust Settles From Election Day, A Mixed Victory For Election Integrity Appears <[link removed]> - The final results in the Nov. 8 elections heralded several important changes to state election-integrity laws across the country. While some of the initiatives, approved via ballot referendums, will improve the integrity of state elections, others are more invidious, making elections in those state more insecure. Heritage Expert: Hans von Spakovsky <[link removed]>
 
New COP27 Climate Deal Is Completely Backwards <[link removed]> – The new COP27 climate deal, where the West proposes to transfer
billions to developing countries as reparations for conventional fuel use, is entirely backwards. The West should be encouraging all countries to use the most efficient form of fuel available for energy production,
including natural gas, coal, and nuclear. This will raise standards of living and disproportionately help the poor. Advances in economies and living standards over the past two centuries have been due to the use of more energy, not less. The
misguided policies of Western countries to discourage energy use impoverish billions of people worldwide. This poverty is collateral damage for the consciences of Western elites. Heritage Experts: Diana Furchtgott-Roth <[link removed]> and Kevin Dayaratna <[link removed]>
 
Escalating Korean Tensions Require Resolute Allied Response <[link removed]> - North Korea’s missile launches show that the regime has enhanced the quality and quantity of its nuclear-capable missile systems and
has improved the survivability of its nuclear missile force. This not only increases the threat to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, but also risks degrading allied missile defenses and deterrence strategies. Kim Jong-un’s willingness to resume missile flights over Japan and ICBM launches, initiation of extensive military exercises, and increased provocations close to the inter-Korean border all exacerbate regional tensions and risk triggering a military crisis. Washington and Seoul must respond resolutely to North Korean incitements while simultaneously seeking ways to reduce the potential for stumbling into war. Heritage Expert: Bruce Klingner <[link removed]>
 
States May Restrict Abortion Drugs <[link removed]>- The Constitution reserves to the states the powers to protect public health, regulate the medical profession, and restrict abortion. At the same time, it provides that federal law supersedes conflicting state law. With abortions once again on the rise, and with a growing majority of them involving drugs rather than surgery, states are enacting laws to restrict whether or how abortion drugs may be used. Since those abortion drugs are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the question is whether FDA approval of abortion drugs presents a conflict with state laws that only federal preemption can resolve. The answer is “no.” Heritage Expert: Jay Richards <[link removed]> and Emma Waters <[link removed]>
 
Lame-duck omnibus would double down on stagflation <[link removed]> - Before Congress <[link removed]> considers the speaker’s proposal, they should insist she explain why the inflation tax is now $4,200 per worker, why energy prices are up more than 40% since President Biden took office, and why mortgage rates have more than doubled in less than a year. If she’s honest, she will say that Congress <[link removed]> itself made all these problems worse. Since the start of the pandemic, Congress <[link removed]> has written checks totaling $7.5 trillion that were financed through more debt and the Fed printing money like there’s no tomorrow. Far from supporting the economy, the government competed against it. Government spending didn’t magically produce $7.5 trillion worth of tangible goods and services. Reckless money printing and borrowing triggered the rampant inflation that drained the value from your savings, investments and paychecks. Heritage Expert: EJ Antoni <[link removed]> and Richard Stern <[link removed]>
Border Crisis Likely to Worsen After Federal Judge Orders End to Title 42 Expulsion of Illegal Aliens <[link removed]> – The Biden administration requested a five-week pause on the order, which was granted. Title 42 is a health policy, created in the 1940s and implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was invoked by then-President Donald Trump, allowing <[link removed]> the quick deportation of illegal immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy has bounced around in the courts for a while. The Left hates it, and the Biden administration clearly had little interest in maintaining it.  Title 42’s imminent end is not ideal, to say the least. In particular, it’s not ideal for those who want to contain an already exploding border crisis. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported more than 230,000 border encounters in October alone, a record. According to Fox News <[link removed]>, CBP also estimated there were about 64,000 “gotaways” in October, as well. Those are illegal border-crossers who weren’t apprehended. Heritage Expert: Mike Howell <[link removed]>
Giving Every Child an Excellent Future with Education Savings Accounts <[link removed]> - Every child should have the opportunity to succeed in school and in life. After the pandemic, as researchers report steep learning losses across grade levels and subjects, the call for quality learning options is especially urgent. Education savings accounts (ESAs) empower parents with the ability to meet every family and child’s unique education needs and should be available to all school-aged children. Students need options such as ESAs now more than ever. Heritage Expert: Jonathan Butcher <[link removed]> and Jason Bedrick <[link removed]>

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