Author: Jerrick Adams

  • Donor disclosure legislation in 2019: the year in review

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    This month, legislative sessions in 37 states either have convened or will convene. Another six will convene in February. But before we embark on our weekly journey through the 2020 legislative sessions, let’s take a look back on 2019. Legislatures in 33 states considered 74 donor disclosure bills in 2019. New York led the way…

  • Ninth Circuit rules public-sector unions not liable for fees paid prior to Janus

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    On Dec. 26, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that public-sector unions cannot be required to refund fees paid prior to Janus v. AFSCME. In Janus, the U.S. Supreme Court held that compulsory collection of union fees violates workers’ free-speech and associational rights. Who are the parties to the suit?…

  • Ninth Circuit rules public-sector unions not liable for fees paid prior to Janus

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    On Dec. 26, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that public-sector unions cannot be required to refund fees paid prior to Janus v. AFSCME. In Janus, the U.S. Supreme Court held that compulsory collection of union fees violates workers’ free-speech and associational rights. Who are the parties to the suit?…

  • A look ahead at ranked-choice voting in 2020

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    A look ahead at ranked-choice voting in 2020 Voters in Alaska and Massachusetts may weigh in on ballot measures that would implement ranked-choice voting for state-level and congressional offices. Alaska: The ballot measure, an indirect initiated state statute, would establish ranked-choice voting for all general elections conducted in the state. The measure would also establish a top-four primary system for…

  • Two nonprofit groups challenge Rhode Island donor disclosure law

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    On Nov. 21, 2019, two nonprofit groups – the Gaspee Project and the Illinois Opportunity Project – filed suit in U.S. District Court, alleging that a Rhode Island law requiring issue advocacy groups to disclose personal information about their donors to the public violates donors’ free-speech and privacy rights. Who are the parties to the…

  • Department of Labor proposes rule requiring mid-level public-sector unions to disclose finances

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    On Dec. 17, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a regulation that would require mid-level public-sector unions (i.e., state, regional, or district affiliates of national-level unions) to disclose their finances to the federal government if their parent organizations represent private-sector workers. What are the current regulations? Since 2010, mid-level unions representing public-sector employees exclusively have…

  • Massachusetts changes federal and state primary date in 2020 to September 1

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    On December 13, 2019, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) signed H4246, a supplemental appropriations bill, into law. The bill includes a section changing the state’s primary election date for federal and state-level offices from September 15, 2020, to September 1, 2020. No candidate filing deadlines have been altered as a result of this change. Massachusetts’…

  • Four Oregon public school employees sue union over resignation restrictions

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    On Dec. 5, four Oregon public school employees filed suit in U.S. District Court alleging that their union has unconstitutionally denied their resignation requests, continuing to collect dues against their wishes. Who are the parties to the suit? Plaintiffs Dori Yates, Claudia Strickland, Tonya Sevilla, and Linda Newton work for Hillsboro United School District. They…

  • Four Oregon public school employees sue union over resignation restrictions

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    On Dec. 5, four Oregon public school employees filed suit in U.S. District Court alleging that their union has unconstitutionally denied their resignation requests, continuing to collect dues against their wishes. Who are the parties to the suit? Plaintiffs Dori Yates, Claudia Strickland, Tonya Sevilla, and Linda Newton work for Hillsboro United School District. They…

  • Ballot Bulletin: A look back on election policy in 2019

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    Redistricting December 2019 map

    Electoral policy legislation in 2019: the year in review With the year drawing to a close, let’s take a look back at electoral policy legislation in the states in 2019. Redistricting legislation: This year, we’ve tracked 243 bills relating to redistricting policy. This represents a 179 percent increase over the 87 relevant bills introduced in…