Category: Policy

Biden Objects to Raising Gas Tax to Pay for Infrastructure

WASHINGTON—The White House made clear Friday that President Joe Biden was opposed to letting the federal gasoline tax rise at the rate of inflation to help pay for an infrastructure package that a bipartisan group of 21 senators is trying to craft. The gas tax increase was part of an early package that called for…


Biden Signs Bill Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed legislation making Juneteenth, June 19, the 11th federal paid holiday, after the bill was approved by both chambers of Congress. “Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and the promise of a brighter morning to come. This is a day of profound—in my view—profound weight…


Justice Department Reverses 2 Trump Administration Asylum Restrictions

U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday ended two Trump-era policies that made it difficult for people to obtain asylum on grounds of domestic or gang violence as well as for those who claimed a family member was threatened with violence. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a new directive to immigration judges to stop following the two rules, making…


UN Ambassador Says US Needs to Counter China’s ‘Malign Influence’

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations told Congress on June 16 that Beijing’s penetration of the United Nations has caused a “malign influence” with an authoritarian approach, and emphasized the need to enhance U.S. leadership. “The Chinese have pushed that agenda more aggressively in the past few years than they’ve ever done before,” said…


US Ambassador Said to Counter China’s Influence on United Nations

The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations told Congress on June 16, that Beijing’s penetration of the United Nations has caused a “malign influence” with an authoritarian approach, and emphasized the need to enhance U.S. leadership. “… the Chinese have pushed that agenda more aggressively in the past few years than they’ve ever done before,”…


Louisiana Governor Signs Bill Ending $300 Federal Unemployment Boost

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) signed a bill on June 16 which provided for the early termination of the $300 unemployment payments from the federal government. The new law raises the state’s maximum weekly unemployment benefit but only goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2021, if Edwards ends the state’s participation in the federal enhanced unemployment…


Biden’s First National Security Strategy Has Singular Focus on Domestic Terrorism

President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday unveiled a national security strategy that focuses exclusively on domestic terrorism, naming white supremacists and militia extremists as “the most persistent and lethal threats” to America among ideologies motivating domestic terrorists. Continuing its broad effort to combat violence from homegrown extremists, the administration published the 32-page strategy and the…


Federal Authorities Propose Heavy Penalties for Airline Passengers Who Refuse to Comply With Mask Mandates

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed civil penalties for four passengers that allegedly transgressed their rules while dealing with flight attendants who gave them the instructions. These sanctions are part of the FAA’s “zero-tolerance policy for unruly and dangerous behavior by passengers.” “Since Jan. 1, 2021, the FAA has received approximately…


Supreme Court May Be Sending a Message to Critics With ‘Line’ of Non-Ideological Opinions: Expert

A constitutional law expert noted that the Supreme Court, with its recent decisions, could be sending a message to proponents of “packing” or enacting other changes to the high court. “The Supreme Court this week continued to disappoint congressional Democrats and activists with a long line of embarrassingly unanimous, nonideological rulings,” wrote George Washington University…


Supreme Court May Be Sending a Message to Critics With String of Non-Ideological Opinions: Expert

A constitutional law expert noted that the Supreme Court, with its recent decisions, could be sending a message to proponents of “packing” or enacting other changes to the high court. “The Supreme Court this week continued to disappoint congressional Democrats and activists with a long line of embarrassingly unanimous, nonideological rulings,” wrote George Washington University…