Category: Federal
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A closer look at voter turnout in Retained and Boomerang Pivot counties
Ballotpedia has been analyzing the 206 Pivot Counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and Donald Trump (R) in 2016. This year, we have introduced two new categories: Retained Pivot Counties, which voted for Trump again in 2020, and Boomerang Pivot Counties, which voted for Joe Biden (D). Based on unofficial…
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U.S. Senate confirms three to Federal Election Commission
The new commissioners are Shana Broussard (D), Allen Dickerson (R), and Sean Cooksey (R). They join current commissioners James “Trey” Trainor (R), Steven T. Walther (I), and Ellen L. Weintraub (D). Trainor chairs the commission, and Walther is vice chair. Broussard previously served as counsel to now fellow commissioner Walther, while Dickerson was the legal…
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U.S. Supreme Court hears oral argument in case about presidential control of independent agencies
On December 9, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Collins v. Mnuchin, a case about the extent of the president’s appointment and removal powers and control of independent federal agencies. The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether restrictions Congress placed on the ability of the president to remove the director of the Federal…
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Elections in New York’s 22nd and Iowa’s 2nd set to have narrower margins of victory than any 2018 Congressional race
As of December 9, the results of two U.S. House elections remain uncertain. The election in New York’s 22nd Congressional District is too close to call amid an ongoing legal challenge surrounding partial recounts. In Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) was certified as the winner by state election officials as winning by a…
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Two nominees confirmed to federal judgeships
The week of November 30, 2020, two federal judicial nominees were confirmed to Article I judgeships by the U.S. Senate. They will join their respective courts upon receiving their judicial commission and taking their judicial oaths. U.S. Court of Federal Claims On December 2, 2020, Kathryn Davis was confirmed to the court by the U.S.…
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U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear case challenging HHS approval of state work requirements for Medicaid beneficiaries
On December 4, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving agency approval of work requirements for state Medicaid beneficiaries. In Azar v. Gresham, the court will decide whether the Medicaid statute empowers the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to approve state plans to use work requirements…
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U.S. Supreme Court releases January 2021 argument calendar
The U.S. Supreme Court has released its January argument calendar for the 2020-2021 term. The court will hear five hours of oral argument in seven cases between January 11 and January 19. So far, the court has agreed to hear 46 cases during its 2020-2021 term. January 11, 2021 • Albence v. Guzman Chavez January…
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Republican and Democrat national party committees raised $467 million between October 15 and November 23
Six party committees raised a combined $467 million between October 15 and November 23 this year, according to post-general election campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission on December 3. One more campaign finance report is due this cycle, covering fundraising and spending through December 31. Democrats and Republicans each have three party…
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President Trump executive order outlines use of artificial intelligence by federal agencies
On December 3, Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by federal agencies while protecting public trust and upholding the law. The order directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to post a roadmap for future policy guidance about AI consistent with the…
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Voter registration deadline for Georgia’s Senate runoff elections is Dec. 7
Dec. 7 is the deadline to register to vote in Georgia’s Jan. 5 runoff elections. Eligible voters may vote in the runoff even if they did not vote in the Nov. 3 general elections, as long as they are registered by the deadline. Georgia’s regular and special Senate runoffs will determine control of the next…