Year: 2025
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Judge issues second decision upholding Biden ESG labor rule
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk upheld the Biden administration’s Labor Department rule allowing the use of ESG investment considerations in ERISA-governed retirement plans for a second time. The decision again rejected the legal challenge from 26 Republican attorneys general. Kacsmaryk’s decision upheld the Biden administration’s Labor Department rule without relying on Chevron deference, which was…
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Voters to decide on creating city of Starbase, Texas, home of SpaceX, on May 3
Voters in the unincorporated area of Cameron County, Texas, known as Starbase—home to SpaceX—will decide on May 3 whether to incorporate it as a city. If approved, Starbase would become a Type C general law municipality with a commission form of government comprising a mayor and two commissioners. Elections for mayor and commissioner will be…
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Vermont towns to vote on ballot measures related to the Israel-Palestine conflict
Voters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and five Vermont towns will decide on ballot measures related to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in the coming months. On May 20, Pittsburgh voters will decide on two charter amendments passed by the city council in response to a proposed citizen initiative that may also appear on the ballot. The potential citizen…
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Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee holds confirmation hearing for Lori Chavez-DeRemer for secretary of labor
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing for Lori Chavez-DeRemer for secretary of Labor on Feb. 19, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on her nomination. Chavez-DeRemer must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can…
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Kelly Loeffler confirmed as administrator of the Small Business Administration
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Kelly Loeffler as administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) on Feb. 19, 2025. The Senate voted 52-46 in favor of her nomination, with Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) joining 51 Republicans voting in favor. This was the 18th member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second…
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Howard Lutnick confirmed as secretary of commerce
The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Howard Lutnick as secretary of commerce on Feb. 18, 2025. The Senate voted 51-45 in favor of his nomination along party lines. This was the 17th member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term. Trump announced on Nov. 19, 2024, that he had selected…
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Checks and Balances, February 2025
Highlights from this edition of Checks and Balances include Trump’s first noteworthy executive orders on the administrative state and states modeling the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In Washington Bills limiting the administrative state reintroduced in 119th Congress What’s the story? Republicans introduced several bills in January and early February that would limit the…
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Virginia legislature advances three constitutional amendments on abortion, same-sex marriage, and felon voting rights restoration to the 2026 legislative session
The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…