Category: Policies & Impacts

Biden Admin Targets Air Conditioning Refrigerants Over Climate Concerns

The Biden administration has announced stringent new rules to reduce the use of coolants used in most air conditioning units and other appliances in the name of fighting climate change, with experts warning it will likely mean Americans will have to pay more to stay cool. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week issued a…


Public Pressure Forces California Committee to Reconsider, Pass Child Sex Trafficking Bill

After a child sex trafficking bill was killed by the Assembly Public Safety Committee July 11, pressure from the public, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and the governor led to an abrupt about-face July 13, with the committee passing the measure in a tense, one-minute meeting. Following a contentious debate on the floor…


Public Pressure Forces California Committee to Revive Child Sex Trafficking Bill

After a child sex trafficking bill was killed by the Assembly Public Safety Committee July 11, pressure from the public, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and the governor led to an abrupt about-face July 13, with the committee passing the measure in a tense, one-minute meeting. Following a contentious debate on the floor…


Climate Envoy Kerry Won’t Share Staff Names to Congress, Saying It’s Not ‘Required’

Climate Envoy John Kerry, who reports directly to President Joe Biden from a cabinet-level position in the State Department, would not disclose the names of various staff in his office when asked to do so on July 13 by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.). Pointing to a mostly empty org chart labeled, “Who’s In Charge?” Mr….


IN-DEPTH: If Parents Want Their Rights Back They Must End Teacher Union Monopoly: Expert

Former President of the Thomas Jefferson Institute Chris Braunlich said teachers’ unions are controlling the education system and have been funding pro-union political candidates, all the way down to school board members, in an effort to retain their power. Braunlich said parents and other concerned citizens must be aware of what teachers’ unions are doing and…


Lawmaker Raises Concerns Over FEMA’s Role in Facilitating Illegal Immigration

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) questioned a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official on the body’s participation in helping the United States cope with the crisis of illegal immigration. In a Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology hearing entitled “The Future of FEMA: Agency Perspectives with Administrator Criswell,” held on July 13, the future of FEMA…


House Committee Chair Subpoenas State Department for China-Related Document

The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has subpoenaed the State Department for documents relating to the agency’s reported decision to withhold actions aimed at confronting threats from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said on July 12 that he has filed a subpoena to Secretary of State…


Federal Worker Unions Lose Only 1 Percent of Complaints Filed Against Them by Government Workers: Study

Taxpayers fear having to talk to the IRS, Medicare patients hate appealing coverage decisions, and beneficiaries dread dealing with the Social Security Administration, but one group that apparently has nothing to fear from the government is labor unions representing federal civil service workers. An analysis by Americans for Fair Treatment (AFFT) of Federal Labor Relations…


Recycling Toilet Waste: California Considers Making Domestic Wastewater Drinkable

California has put forward a proposal to convert domestic and industrial wastewater into a “climate-resilient” drinking water source even as safety concerns remain regarding its consumption. On Tuesday, California’s State Water Resources Control Board announced a series of proposed regulations that would allow for municipal wastewater to be mixed in with water systems as part…


Most Federal Agencies Using Less Than 25 Percent of Office Space: GAO

Most federal agencies are using less than 25 percent of their headquarters space, according to a new U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. Testifying before members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 13, GAO Acting Director of Physical Infrastructure David Marroni said an assessment was conducted earlier this year to determine how…