Category: Federal

  • Documenting America’s Path to Recovery: April 16, 2021 #Edition #227

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    Welcome to Documenting America’s Path to Recovery. Today we look at: New Hampshire’s expiring mask mandate Changes in vaccine eligibility in Massachusetts COVID-19 policy changes from this time last year  We are committed to keeping you updated on everything from mask requirements to curfews to vaccine-related policies. We will keep you abreast of major developments—especially…

  • SCOTUS back in session, to hear arguments next week

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    The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is scheduled to begin its April argument sitting the week of April 19. The court will hear arguments via teleconference and will provide audio live streams to the public. The court has not heard arguments in person during the 2020 term.  SCOTUS will hear arguments in seven…

  • Congressional resolution would reverse Trump-era rule specifying when Social Security administrative appeals judges would decide cases

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    On April 1, 2021, U.S. Representative John Larson (D-Conn.) introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to block a rule made by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in November 2020.  The rule, published in the Federal Register on November 16, 2020, aims to clarify when administrative appeals…

  • Federal Register weekly update: 68 new final rules

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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 overall regulatory activity, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions. From April 5 through April 9—the 12th week of the Biden administration—the Federal Register grew…

  • Checks and Balances: State lawmakers press for oversight of emergency powers

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    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 six resolutions of disapproval filed under…

  • Transition Tracker: Biden announces bipartisan SCOTUS commission

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    Every weekday, Ballotpedia is tracking key presidential appointments, executive actions, and policy developments from the Biden administration. There are no committee hearings scheduled Monday. The Senate will reconvene for a full session on Monday at 3:00 p.m. after being adjourned since March 25.  News Biden issued an executive order on Friday to convene a bipartisan…

  • Two Cabinet-level positions remain unfilled in Biden admin

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    All 15 of President Joe Biden’s (D) main Cabinet secretary nominees were confirmed 61 days after he took office. At this point in President Barack Obama’s (D) presidency—82 days after his inauguration—he still had one vacant secretary post for the Department of Health and Human Services. President Donald Trump (R) had two: the secretaries of…

  • Ballotpedia’s Weekly Transition Tracker: April 3-9, 2021

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    Every weekday, Ballotpedia is tracking key presidential appointments, executive actions, and policy developments from the Biden administration. There were no committee hearings scheduled this week. The Senate stands adjourned until April 12 for a full session. Executive Actions and Nominations Biden announced David Chipman as his nominee for director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,…

  • SCOTUS issues opinion, accepts case

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    The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on April 5 issued an opinion in the case Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc. and accepted Brown v. Davenport for argument in October 2021. In Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc., the court reversed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s ruling and remanded…

  • Transition Tracker for April 9, 2021: Biden is expected to release the initial outline of his proposed 2022 federal budget.

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    Every weekday, Ballotpedia is tracking key presidential appointments, executive actions, and policy developments from the Biden administration. There are no committee hearings scheduled Friday. The Senate stands adjourned until April 12 for a full session. News Biden is expected to release the initial outline of his proposed 2022 federal budget on Friday, which will include…