Year: 2021

  • Three states enact indoor mask requirements

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    Our weekly summary of state & local news highlights new indoor mask requirements in three states and five constitutional amendments passed in the Pennsylvania House. Read all about it in this week’s edition of the State & Local Tap. Note: We will not be publishing The State & Local Tap on Dec. 25 or Jan.…

  • ICYMI: Top stories of the week

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    Democrats outraised Republicans by 125% in Virginia state legislative races New campaign finance filings for Virginia’s House of Delegates races showed that Democrats led Republicans in fundraising throughout the 2021 election cycle. Between Jan. 1, 2020, and Nov. 25, 2021, Democratic candidates outraised Republican candidates by 125%. Read more A busy week for Biden’s judicial…

  • An overview of the public-sector labor lawsuits tracked by Ballotpedia

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    Note: The next edition of Union Station will be on Jan. 7, 2022. Until then, happy holidays! Overview of federal lawsuits related to public-sector labor policy Since late 2019, Ballotpedia has tracked 160 federal lawsuits related to public-sector labor policy. Today, we’ll look at an overview of these cases. We’ll also highlight seven Supreme Court…

  • Judge rules against Missouri State Treasurer and allows the ballot language for Amendment 1 to stand

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    On Dec. 13, 2021, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled against a challenge brought by Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (R) to the ballot language and summary of Missouri Amendment 1. The constitutional amendment would allow the state treasurer to invest state funds in highly rated municipal securities. It would also authorize the legislature…

  • Maine Question 1’s support and opposition campaigns raised $99.6 million, totaling $241.75 per vote

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    On Nov. 2, voters approved Maine Question 1, which prohibited the construction of electric transmission lines defined as high-impact in the Upper Kennebec Region, including the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC). The ballot initiative also required a two-thirds vote of each state legislative chamber to approve high-impact electric transmission line projects. The NECEC is a planned 145-mile long, high-voltage…

  • 3 judges confirmed, 10 nominated to federal courts

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    Welcome to the Friday, December 17, Brew.  By: Douglas Kronaizl Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: A busy week for Biden’s judicial nominees And on the Fifth Day … Candidate Connections #FridayTrivia: How many school board recall efforts has Ballotpedia tracked in 2021? As a reminder, today is the last…

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery #216: December 16, 2021

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    Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at statewide mask requirements in California, New York, and Rhode Island, an at-home rapid COVID-19 test initiative in Massachusetts, and other news since Dec. 9. We’ll also give the latest tracking on: Lawsuits about state actions and policies  Vaccine distribution State-level mask requirements COVID-19 emergency…

  • Biden announces nine nominees to Article III courts; three to D.C. local courts

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    President Joe Biden (D) announced his intent to nominate nine individuals to Article III judgeships with lifetime terms on Dec. 15: Jessica Clarke, to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Sherilyn Garnett, to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Hector Gonzalez, to the U.S. District Court…

  • U.S. Senate confirms two nominees to Article III judgeships

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    The U.S. Senate confirmed two of President Joe Biden’s (D) federal judicial nominees to lifetime Article III judgeships on Dec. 15: Jennifer Sung, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, by a vote of 50-49 Samantha Elliott, to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, by a vote of…

  • Filing deadline approaches for two California State Assembly special elections

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    Candidates interested in running in special elections for California State Assembly Districts 17 and 49 have until Dec. 22 to file. The primary election for both races is scheduled for Feb. 15, and the general election is set for April 19. California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates are listed on the…