Year: 2022
-
OIRA reviewed 22 significant rules in February
In February 2022, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed 22 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies. OIRA approved the intent of 21 rules while recommending changes to their content. One rule was withdrawn from the review process by the issuing agency. OIRA reviewed 16 significant regulatory actions in February…
-
Virginia governor announces reduction in initial unemployment claims backlog
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) announced Feb. 21 that the Virginia Employment Commission had reduced the backlog of pending unpaid unemployment insurance claims (that were awaiting a determination of eligibility) from about 25,000 to roughly 16,000 since Jan. 15. The change represented a backlog reduction of about 36%. Youngkin also announced the commission processed about…
-
Massachusetts announces end of facial recognition requirement for unemployment insurance
The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance announced Feb. 23 that it would suspend the use of facial recognition technology through ID.me as a way for unemployment insurance claimants to verify their identities. The department cited decreased claim volumes as the basis for the decision. The change still allows claimants to verify their identities virtually through…
-
Michigan governor signs bill retroactively waiving able and available to work requirements for pandemic unemployment aid
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) signed a bill on Feb. 28 allowing part-time workers who applied for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to keep their benefits. The law may also allow certain workers who were initially denied pandemic unemployment benefits due to part-time work or inability to work to claim retroactive benefits through appeal to the…
-
Federal Register weekly update: 11 significant documents added
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 regulatory activity, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions. From February 28 through March 4, the Federal Register grew by 1,630 pages for a year-to-date…
-
One incumbent defeated in Texas’ state legislative primaries, continuing a decade-long decrease
Texas held the first statewide primary of the 2022 election cycle for federal and state offices on March 1. Heading into the primaries, it was guaranteed that at least one of the 151 state legislative incumbents seeking re-election would lose. Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez (D), who currently represents House District 76, was drawn into House…
-
Previewing Milwaukee's April 5 special mayoral election
The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is holding a special general election for mayor on April 5, 2022. Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Robert Donovan advanced from a February 15 primary with 42% and 22% of the vote, respectively. Seven candidates ran. The special election was called after Mayor Tom Barrett resigned on Dec. 22, 2021,…
-
Two candidates running in Ohio Secretary of State Republican primary election
Incumbent Frank LaRose and John Adams are running in the Republican Party primary for Ohio Secretary of State on May 3, 2022. LaRose is a U.S. Army veteran and worked as a business manager and project lead for a consulting firm. He represented Ohio State Senate District 27 from 2011 to 2018, and was elected…