Dear Friend of TJI, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times both report that the administration of Governor Andrew “The Love Guv” Cuomo covered up 15,000 nursing home deaths by making changes to public reports of nursing home outcomes. The Times noted “The extraordinary intervention … came just as Mr. Cuomo was starting to write a book on his pandemic achievements.” We’re certain this was totally unrelated. That book debuted at Number 7 on the Times’ Nonfiction Best Seller List. We expect it to rise to Number 1 on the "Fiction" list soon … Meanwhile … 1.) In other cover-up news, after several requests Virginia’s Office of the Inspector General (OSIG) on Monday turned over parole board records to Governor Ralph Northam, who has indicated he wants an outside investigation of the Parole Board’s actions (here). On Thursday, it was reported that a 12-page draft report highly critical of the Parole Board was provided to Attorney General Mark Herring one month before a shortened 6-page report was provided to Governor Northam (here). Also on Thursday, Governor Northam endorsed Herring’s primary opponent for re-nomination, Delegate Jay Jones (here). These events are no doubt totally unrelated. 2.) In other book news, Dr. Seuss has been cancelled from “Read Across America” Day, an annual date chosen by the National Education Association because it was Theodore Geisel’s (Seuss’ real name) birthday (here). Seuss, who frequently spoke out against isolationsism, racism and anti-semitism, created an anti-capitalist greenie named the Lorax (“I speak for the trees!”), wrote The Sneetches (a lesson against racism) and The Butter Battle Book (warning against an arms race), was accused of racism himself and six of his books withdrawn from the market by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, including the first he ever wrote in 1937. Among the evidence (here): During World War II, Geisel drew Japanese characters in a crude and offensive way as part of U.S. propaganda efforts to help the human race survive; of the 2,240 (identified) human characters in his books, there are only forty-five characters of color; several characters in the withdrawn books portrayed people in ways that many felt were hurtful and wrong. The issue, however, is not Seuss. It is that he is the first in what will be a long line ending at Twain, Fitzgerald, and T.S. Eliot, as Matt Bai suggests here, concluding “So run to the library! Hip Hip Hooray! We’re vanishing books now. You’ve gotten your way!" 3.) Here in the nonfiction world, the Virginia General Assembly has adjourned, the budget is balanced, so naturally Progressive legislators are looking for ways to hunt down more revenue by re-writing Virginia’s tax code. Steve Haner, our intrepid Senior Fellow for Tax Policy lays it out here. 4.) As reported last week, the effort to force Dominion Energy ratepayers to finance electric school buses crashed at the end of the General Assembly session after multiple votes trying to secure a majority. But Haner offers additional thoughts on the background story in Bacon’s Rebellion here. The progressive Virginia Mercury also offers its insights here. 5.) We also reported that Advanced Recycling legislation was approved as part of “The Great Polystyrene Compromise of 2021.” The latest word, however, is that some members of Governor Northam’s Administration have decided to push their own agenda and encourage a veto, despite overwhelming bipartisan support in the House (90-8) and Senate (34-4), despite the argument from Senator Chap Peterson that there needs to be a solution to landfills and not just naysaying, despite Governor Northam’s stated support to build a new facility in Cumberland County and the likelihood that five more could be built, and despite the fact that that the legislation is in the Council of State Government’s model legislation. You can urge the Governor’s support for the SB1164 Advanced Recycling bill by clicking here. 6.) If that sounds like the Left is trying to muscle their agenda through, you’re right. And nothing says it better than a graphic from the Virginia Public Access Project here. Over at the progressive Virginia Mercury, they sum up two years of Democratic Party control here. 7.) But Delegates work hard, and that’s why state taxpayers reimburse them $211 a day while in session for hotel and meals. Problem is, they all worked from home this year, sleeping in their beds and eating from their refrigerators … and taxpayers, under the current Democrat regime, still paid them $800,000 (here and here). 8.) If Spring hasn’t sprung in your area, here are three ways to warm up from the comfort of your home:
a. Is Joe Biden’s now-approved COVID-19 Relief package COVID relief or a partisan wishlist? Hear from Americans for Prosperity’s President Tim Phillips in a webinar this coming Monday and Tuesday. Sign up for Monday at 7:00 pm by clicking here. Sign up for Tuesday at 12 noon by clicking here.
b. With the unions hurriedly preparing model collective bargaining contracts to push on local governments and national legislation that would ban Right To Work laws, is RTW in danger? Listen to National Right To Work President Mark Mix on “Freedom & Prosperity Radio” by clicking here.
c. Tomorrow at 12 noon, you can watch the latest from the Moving Picture Institute, an organization developing freedom-loving filmmakers by registering at least 30 minutes in advance here. The film follows Jerome Conquest, a man from one of Philadelphia's distressed neighborhoods who finds hope in boxing after his best friend is tragically killed. Despite his struggles, Jerome doesn’t give up—he pursues his dream of becoming a professional boxer and empowers others in the process. Catch the trailer here. 9.) Education choice has had a hard battle in Virginia and the existing Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit (EISTC) is certainly in danger of being pulled back by this General Assembly. A group of parents has organized to protect and expand the EISTC and would love to keep you up to date on school choice activities. Register to receive their updates by clicking here. 10.) Guess who just admitted Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra violated the First Amendment? The Biden-Harris Administration, which filed briefs before the US Supreme Court, siding with Americans for Prosperity (here and here). The case – over donor disclosure – joins together the ACLU, Cato Institute, NAACP, Chamber of Commerce, and Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Donor disclosure is among the many provisions in H.R.1, which would let the feds dictate state voting rules and has now sailed through the House of Representatives (here and here), with only one Democrat having refused to sell out his state (here). The bill will need 60 votes in the Senate to break an expected filibuster. 11.) The other bill boosted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi as part of a clear plan to make permanent the liberal gains made over the last two years is the PRO Act, which would outlaw all state Right To Work laws and require most independent contractors to be reclassified as employees -- thereby enriching the Left's allies among unions. You can read its provisions here, here and here. Like H.R.1, it is expected to sail through the House and the battle will be in the Senate, where 60 votes will again be needed. 12.) Which is why support for the filibuster is so important (here) and why West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin runs the Senate (here). Happy Sunday, Everyone. Watch that exit off Mulberry Street. It leads to Aunt Polly's house. Cordially, | |
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