Category: Federal
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SCOTUS issues rulings in two cases argued during April sitting
The U.S. Supreme Court issued rulings in two cases on May 24, United States v. Palomar-Santiago and Guam v. United States. As of this writing, the court had issued opinions in 38 cases this term. Seven cases were decided without argument. United States v. Palomar-Santiago was argued before the court on April 27 and originated…
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Senate Commerce Committee advances Lander nomination for OSTP director
On May 20, 2021, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation favorably reported by voice vote the nomination of Eric Lander for director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Lander advances to the Senate for a confirmation vote. President Joe Biden (D) elevated the office of the OSTP director to his…
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SCOTUS issues four opinions in cases argued this term
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued opinions in four cases on May 17 that were argued during the 2020-2021 term. Edwards v. Vannoy • The case: A non-unanimous jury found Thedrick Edwards guilty of nine counts of armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one…
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Unanimous U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of pre-enforcement challenge against IRS regulation
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in CIC Services v. Internal Revenue Service that CIC Services, a risk management consulting firm, may challenge an IRS records reporting regulation without first violating the new regulation and paying a tax penalty. At issue was whether the Anti-Injunction Act (AIA), a federal law that bars lawsuits to prevent…
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U.S. Supreme Court dismisses case challenging regulations related to abortion under Title X family planning program
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed American Medical Association v. Becerra in its order list published on May 17. The case concerned whether the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and federal healthcare laws when it issued a 2019 rule that placed abortion-related restrictions on healthcare providers receiving…
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Federal Register weekly update: Tops 26,000 pages
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 overall regulatory activity, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions. From May 10 through May 14, the Federal Register grew by 1,936 pages for a…
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U.S. Senate approves resolution to reverse Trump-era rule about how banking laws apply to certain loans
The U.S. Senate passed a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) on May 11 to block a rule made by the U.S. Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in Oct. 2020. The final vote was 52-47, with three Republicans, Susan Collins (Maine), Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), and Marco Rubio (Fla.), voting in favor of the resolution.…
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SCOTUS accepts three new cases for its 2021-2022 term
The U.S. Supreme Court accepted three new cases for review during its 2021-2022 term on May 17. With the addition of these cases, the court has agreed to hear 17 cases during the term, which is scheduled to begin on October 4, 2021. • Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization concerns the constitutionality of a…
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Checks and Balances: Biden EO spurs removal of publicly available guidance document portals
The Checks and Balances Letter delivers news and information from Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Project, including pivotal actions at the federal and state levels related to the separation of powers, due process and the rule of law. This edition: In this month’s edition of Checks and Balances, we review the removal of publicly accessible guidance document…
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Stefanik replaces Cheney as Republican conference chair
On May 14, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) was elected the new Republican conference chair by a vote of 134-46. She succeeds Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who was removed from the position on May 12. Cheney was one of 10 House Republicans to support the second impeachment of President Donald Trump (R) following the Jan. 6,…