Category: Federal

  • Sen. Joe Manchin registers as an independent

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    On May 31, 2024, Sen. Joe Manchin announced that he was leaving the Democratic Party and filing as an independent.  In a Tweet posted to X, Manchin said “My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation.” Manchin announced in…

  • Federal Register weekly update: Weekly pages added averages 2,191 this year (2024)

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    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 May 20, 2024, through May 24, 2024, the Federal Register grew by 2,282 pages for…

  • U.S. unemployment insurance claims fall to 222,000 (2024)

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    New applications for U.S. unemployment insurance benefits fell 10,000 for the week ending May 11 to a seasonally adjusted 222,000. The previous week’s figure was revised up by 1,000 to 232,000. The four-week moving average as of May 11 increased 2,500 from the previous week’s revised average to 217,750. The number of continuing unemployment insurance…

  • Congressional Democrats ask SEC to finalize ESG disclosure rule

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    Twenty-one congressional Democrats sent a letter to SEC Chairman Gary Gensler on May 13 requesting that the commission continue finalizing its rule requiring additional disclosures for self-identified ESG investment funds. Ballotpedia tracks support for and opposition to the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing movement. To learn more about arguments for, against, and about…

  • SCOTUS takes up challenges to ATF rule, judicial review of immigration decisions

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    Image of the front of the United States Supreme Court building.

    The United States Supreme Court in April 2024 agreed to hear two cases in the 2024-2025 term concerning a U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) rule and judicial review of certain decisions made by immigration officials.  SCOTUS on April 22 agreed to hear Garland v. VanDerStok—a case challenging the ATF’s authority to…

  • Two members of Congress have announced their retirements since April 17

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    Fifty-two members of Congress—eight senators and 44 representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election this year. Since our April 16 update on congressional incumbents not seeking re-election, Bill Posey (R-Fla.) and Jacob LaTurner (R-Kan.) announced their retirements from the House. Additionally, Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.) died while in office. Ballotpedia does not include incumbents…

  • The Food and Nutrition Service issues proposed rule for SNAP work requirements (2024)

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    The Food and Nutrition Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule on April 30, 2024, to incorporate the new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements that passed in June as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Two of the proposed rule’s provisions deal with exceptions to the SNAP…

  • SCOTUS upholds Consumer Financial Protection Bureau funding structure

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    The U.S. Supreme Court on May 16, 2024, held 7-2 in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Limited that Congress statutorily authorized the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to draw money directly from the Federal Reserve System. The court ruled that the CFPB’s funding structure therefore does not violate the…

  • Federal Register weekly update: Yearly page total tops 43,000 (2024)

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    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 May 13, 2024, through May 17, 2024, the Federal Register grew by 2,446 pages for…

  • Six candidates are running in the Republican primary election for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District on June 4, 2024

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    Six candidates are running in the Republican primary election for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District on June 4, 2024: U.S. Rep Lauren Boebert (R), Deborah Flora (R), Richard Holtorf (R), Michael Lynch (R), Jerry Sonnenberg (R), and Peter Yu (R). Incumbent U.S. Rep Ken Buck (R) resigned on March 22, leaving the district open. Colorado Public…