Year: 2021

  • SCOTUS hears three hours of oral argument during the first week of March

    Posted on

    The first week of March closed out the U.S. Supreme Court’s February sitting with three hours of oral arguments in seven cases. The court will hear oral arguments again during its March sitting scheduled for March 22 to March 31.  On March 1, the court heard one hour of oral argument in United States v.…

  • Special election to be held in Maine Senate district

    Posted on

    A special election is being held on March 9 for District 14 of the Maine State Senate. Small business owners Craig Hickman (D) and William Guerrette (R) are running in the general election. The seat became vacant on December 2 after Shenna Bellows (D) declined to be sworn in for her new term. The Maine…

  • Transition Tracker: Harris casts third tie-breaking vote on coronavirus recovery bill

    Posted on

    President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House staff and appointees to top government positions. In 2020, there were 1,472 government positions subject to presidential appointment: 1,118 positions required Senate confirmation and 354 did not. The new administration is…

  • The Daily Brew: First-year judicial appointments since 1981

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Friday, March 5, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Presidents’ first-year federal judicial appointments since 1981 Upcoming elections and filing deadlines RSVP to our Administrative State Lunch Club  Presidents’ first-year federal judicial appointments since 1981 President Joe Biden (D) has not yet made any federal judicial…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: March 4, 2021

    Posted on

    The next 24 hours What is changing in the next 24 hours? Colorado (Democratic trifecta): The state will start Phase 1B3 of vaccine distribution on March 5. This phase includes all individuals age 60 and older, people age 16-59 with two or more state-defined comorbidities, and agriculture and grocery store workers. New York (Democratic trifecta): …

  • Antonio Soto resigns from Puerto Rico House of Representatives

    Posted on

    Antonio Soto (New Progressive Party) resigned his seat in the Puerto Rico House of Representatives on Feb. 28. Soto cited a need to take over his family’s businesses due to his parents’ advanced age as the reason for his resignation.  “There are circumstances in life that make us make decisions and the family always comes…

  • Rhode Island voters approve $400 million in bonds in special election

    Posted on

    Voters in Rhode Island approved all seven bond measures—totaling $400 million—in a special election on March 2. The Rhode Island Legislature referred the questions to the ballot. Here are the details for all seven approved measures: Question 1: Authorized $107.3 million in bonds for the University of Rhode Island Fine Arts Center, the Rhode Island…

  • Senate Finance Committee splits 14-14 on Becerra nomination

    Posted on

    The Senate Finance Committee split along party lines on whether to favorably report Xavier Becerra‘s nomination for secretary of health and human services. President Joe Biden (D) and his team have been preparing for the transition between presidential administrations since the election, including selecting senior White House staff and appointees to top government positions. In…

  • The Daily Brew: Approval voting in the nation’s 57th largest city

    Posted on

    Welcome to the Thursday, March 4, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: What happened in St. Louis’ first-ever approval voting election Biden withdraws Tanden nomination Recap of other election results from Tuesday What happened in St. Louis’ first-ever approval voting election St. Louis used a new voting method on…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: March 3, 2021

    Posted on

    The next 24 hours What is changing in the next 24 hours? Arizona (Republican trifecta): Vaccination centers in the Phoenix Metro Area can start vaccinating individuals age 55 and older and frontline essential workers starting March 4. People in those groups started making appointments on March 2. Centers in other parts of the state still…