Year: 2021

  • Biden to be sworn in as 46th president of the United States

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    January 20, 2021: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the 46th president and 49th vice president of the United States, respectively. Prior to taking office on January 20, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden (D) and his team must prepare for the transition between presidential administrations, including selecting senior White House staff and…

  • Average margin of victory in U.S. House races reaches decade-long low

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    The average margin of victory in the 2020 elections for U.S. House was lower than at any point since at least 2012. A margin of victory refers to the difference between the share of the vote received by the winning candidate and the share of the vote received by the runner-up. For example, suppose Candidate…

  • Biden to be inaugurated as 46th president

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    Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Jan. 20. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) will also be sworn in as the 49th vice president of the United States, becoming the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve in the office.…

  • Jenner takes office as Indiana Secretary of Education

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    On Jan. 11, Katie Jenner took office as Indiana’s first Secretary of Education. Jenner, a former senior education advisor to Gov. Eric Holcomb (R), assumed the role after the former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jennifer McCormick (R), left office the previous week.  Jenner was appointed to the position by Gov. Holcomb in November 2020,…

  • Three states consider bills barring public agencies from disclosing nonprofit donor information

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    Thus far this year, lawmakers in at least three states – Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee – have introduced bills that would bar public agencies from publicly disclosing identifying information about nonprofit donors.   What the bills propose The four bills (HSB28 and SSB1036 in Iowa, LB370 in Nebraska, and HB0159 in Tennessee) propose largely similar policies.…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: January 19, 2021

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    Since our last edition What rules and restrictions are changing in each state? For a continually updated article, click here. Arkansas (Republican trifecta): The state started Phase 1-B of vaccine distribution on Jan. 18. Individuals age 70 and older and school staff are eligible to receive the vaccine. Arizona (Republican trifecta): Gov. Doug Ducey (R)…

  • Biden elevates presidential science advisor to Cabinet-level position

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    January 19, 2021: Joe Biden named Eric Lander presidential science advisor and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and made the position Cabinet-rank. Prior to taking office on January 20, 2021, President-elect Joe Biden (D) and his team must prepare for the transition between presidential administrations, including selecting senior White House staff…

  • SEIU asks California Supreme Court to declare Proposition 22 unconstitutional

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    The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and four app-based drivers sued the state government in the California Supreme Court on January 12, 2021. The SEIU is seeking to have Proposition 22 declared unconstitutional and unenforceable. Proposition 22 was approved at the election on November 3, 2020, with 58.6% of the vote. The ballot initiative defined app-based transportation…

  • SCOTUS vacates appellate court ruling, remands case to bankruptcy court in City of Chicago, Illinois v. Fulton

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    On January 14, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a unanimous ruling in the case City of Chicago, Illinois v. Fulton. The case originated from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and concerned retained property under the federal Bankruptcy Code. The case was argued during the court’s October term…

  • Filing deadline approaches in New York City Council special elections

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    Candidates interested in running in the special elections for New York City Council Districts 11 and 15 have until January 19, 2021, to file. The general election is scheduled for March 23. The special election in District 11 was called after Andrew Cohen (D) won the November election for New York Supreme Court 12th Judicial…