Author: Jon Dunn
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House passes three-year extension of expanded ACA subsidies
On Jan. 8, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, also known as the expanded premium tax credit (ePTC), for three years. Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats to pass the measure 230–196. The legislation would revive the ePTC, which expired on December 31, 2025. Supporters said the vote…
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How states provide oversight of federal grants
Federal grants make up a significant share of state budgets, and states use a wide range of statutory frameworks to review, approve, and manage these funds. These frameworks determine which actors—governors, legislatures, agencies, auditors, or the public—play a role in evaluating grant applications, accepting federal dollars, and regulating how entities administer those funds. Collectively, these…
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China launches first corporate climate disclosure standards
On Jan. 5, China's Ministry of Finance released the country’s first national corporate climate report framework, titled Corporate Sustainable Disclosure Standard No. 1 – Climate (Trial). The standard sets voluntary guidelines for companies to disclose climate-related information and is intended to align with international reporting frameworks. The framework will start on a voluntary, trial basis,…
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Senator proposes limits on proxy voting in federal retirement plan
On Nov. 25, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) proposed legislation affecting the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement program for civilian federal employees and active-duty service members. The proposal would bar the firms that manage TSP assets—primarily BlackRock and State Street—from casting shareholder votes tied to those holdings. Cruz said he wants to stop the…
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Supreme Court hears arguments on limits to presidential removal power in FTC case
On Dec. 8, 2025 the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Trump v. Slaughter. The case examines whether Congress may limit the president’s authority to remove Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioners and whether courts may order reinstatement when a removal violates a statutory protection. During arguments, the justices focused primarily on how removal limits…
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Ninth Circuit halts California climate-disclosure rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an order on Nov. 18 temporarily blocking enforcement of California’s climate-risk disclosure law, SB 261. The statute requires companies with more than $500 million in annual revenue to report climate-related financial risks starting Jan. 1, 2026. The court granted the request after the U.S. Chamber…
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Trump weighs executive order to limit proxy advisors
The Trump administration is considering an executive order that would reduce the influence of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, the two largest proxy advisory firms in the United States, according to the Wall Street Journal. Officials are reviewing whether the firms exert too much control over how institutional investors vote on corporate matters.…
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Republican AGs warn companies about European ESG compliance
A coalition of 16 Republican state attorneys general sent letters in October 2025 to corporate leaders at Microsoft, Google, and Meta alleging that compliance with the European Union’s sustainability directives could violate U.S. law. The officials cited the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), saying the measures would effectively…
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Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative relaunches without net-zero deadline
The Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative announced on Oct. 30, 2025, that it will resume operations after pausing earlier this year to review its climate commitments. The investor coalition—which once included more than 325 firms managing over $57 trillion—said it has deleted language in its commitment statement that required members to aim for net-zero greenhouse-gas…
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Exxon sues California over new climate disclosure laws
The European Parliament voted on Oct. 22, 2025, to reject a proposal that would have simplified the European Union’s (EU) sustainability reporting and due diligence rules. The bill sought to narrow company-size thresholds and reduce specific disclosure requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Opponents of the…