Getting a Pass
What to know: Even environmentalists now acknowledge that offshore wind energy projects “get a pass” on environmental concerns.
The TPPF take: The Biden administration set aside those concerns.
“The political pressure to implement offshore wind has been intense,” says TPPF’s Robert Henneke. “The Interior Department’s ‘Smart from the Start’ program fast-tracks offshore wind development, improperly granting permissions allowing foreign-owned energy companies to move forward despite the harms to our safety, our domestic industries and our environment.”
For more on offshore wind, click here.
Cooking the Books
What to know: Washington, D.C. is accused of manipulating its crime data to downplay violent crime.
The TPPF take: President Trump’s Executive Order declaring a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., is both lawful and urgently needed.
“For too many years, the D.C. government has encouraged more crime and fewer meaningful police interactions,” says TPPF’s Brett Tolman. “It has emboldened bad actors to take the risk of looting, carjacking, and assaulting because they know they won’t be stopped by D.C. police and even more likely the charges won’t be pursued. This consistent lack of deterrence has created an instable environment that, regardless of the dip in crime data, requires change.”
For more on D.C. crime, click here.
No DEI Here?
What to know: Two staffers now admit that two Tennessee colleges simply rebranded their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts to avoid scrutiny.
The TPPF take: Texas also banned DEI offices from public colleges and universities.
“Just months after the law went into effect, every university president was summoned to the Capitol to update lawmakers on their progress in getting rid of DEI,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “They were asked about the superficial name changes and DEI programs that were still listed in university materials. With the support of the lieutenant governor, university leaders were reminded that their failure to comply with the law would result in loss of funding.”
For more on DEI, click here.