Year: 2021
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Looking back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, July 6-July 10, 2020
Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout the year, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates. Here are the policy changes that happened July 6-July…
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Gavin Newsom recall set for Sept. 14
California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D) announced that a recall election seeking to remove Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will take place on September 14. Recall organizers turned in 1,719,943 valid signatures, more than the 1,495,970 necessary to trigger a recall election. Forty-three voters removed their signatures during a removal period, leaving 1,719,900 valid signatures on…
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Federal Register weekly update: Highest weekly proposed rule total since April
The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s overall regulatory activity, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions. From June 28 through July 2, the Federal Register grew by 1,530 pages for a…
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Union Station: Ruling on Oklahoma Bar Association membership and dues challenge
Tenth Circuit rules on Oklahoma Bar Association membership and dues challenge On June 29, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled on a challenge to the constitutionality of mandatory bar membership and dues, affirming in part and reversing in part the district court’s decision. A majority of states…
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Pennsylvania, Oregon end statewide face-covering requirements
Two states ended statewide public mask requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated people between June 25 and July 1. Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam lifted the statewide mask requirement for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals on June 28. In accordance with CDC guidelines, vaccinated and unvaccinated people still have to wear masks on public transportation and…
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OIRA reviewed 32 significant rules in June
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed a total of 32 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies in June 2021. The agency approved two rules without changes and approved the intent of 29 rules while recommending changes to their content. One rule was withdrawn from the review process. OIRA reviewed…
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Biden signs three Congressional Review Act bills repealing Trump-era rules
President Joe Biden (D) signed three Congressional Review Act (CRA) bills on June 30, reversing three administrative rules implemented near the end of the Donald Trump (R) administration. Signing these bills brings the total number of rules repealed under the CRA to 20. These CRA bills are also the first Congress has used to reverse…
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Filing deadline to run for elected office is July 10 in Birmingham, Alabama
The filing deadline to run for elected office in Birmingham, Alabama, is on July 10, 2021. Prospective candidates may file for the following nonpartisan offices: • Mayor • All nine seats on the city council • Nine of the 10 seats on the Birmingham City Schools school board The general election is scheduled for August…
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Judge blocks $3,000 limit on contributions to Florida initiative campaigns during signature gathering
On July 1, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of Florida Senate Bill 1890. SB 1890 was designed to set $3,000 limits on campaign contributions to committees in support of or opposition to ballot initiatives during signature gathering. The bill was designed to lift the contribution limits after a…