Category: Federal

  • House Energy and Commerce Committee includes Medicaid work requirement in budget reconciliation bill

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    The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed its budget reconciliation bill on May 14 with a 30-24 vote after a May 13th markup of the previous draft version. The current version of the bill would require states to adopt community engagement requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents on Medicaid. The current version specifies community engagement…

  • House Judiciary’s budget reconciliation bill considers REINS Act provisions

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    The House Judiciary Committee released a draft of their budget reconciliation bill on April 27, which included major provisions from the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act (REINS Act), and the markup version voted out April 30th by a 23-17 margin retained those provisions. The final omnibus bill may differ from this…

  • Trump announces first judicial nominees

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    President Donald Trump (R) on May 1, 2025, announced that he would nominate Whitney Hermandorfer for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. This marks his first federal judicial nomination since taking office on January 20, 2025. During his first term, Trump issued his first nomination 11 days after he took office: Justice…

  • President Donald Trump ends April with 44% approval, 53% disapproval

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    At the end of April, approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 44% approval. Fifty-three percent of voters disapproved of his performance. The lowest approval rating he’s received during his presidency is 44%, last seen on April 30, 2025. The highest approval rating Trump has received is 54%, last seen on Jan. 22,…

  • Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi announces 2026 run for the U.S. Senate in Illinois

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    Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) announced on May 7, 2026, that he will run for the U.S. Senate in Illinois in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat is open since incumbent Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced he would not seek re-election. As of May 6, 2025, independent race forecasters…

  • Rep. Robin Kelly announces 2026 run for the U.S. Senate in Illinois

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    Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) announced on May 6, 2025, that she will run for the U.S. Senate in Illinois in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat is open since incumbent Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced he would not seek re-election. As of May 6, 2025, independent race forecasters…

  • Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for May 2025

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from April 2, 2025, to May 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 45 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.2,…

  • House subcommittee addresses proxy advisory firms

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    The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets held a hearing last week on proxy advisory firms, which guide institutional investors on how to vote their shares. Opponents say proxy firms promote ESG priorities in shareholder votes—especially Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, which control a combined 90% of the proxy advisory market. Critics…

  • President Donald Trump issued thirty-four executive orders in April

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    President Donald Trump (R) issued thirty-four executive orders in April, bringing his total to 143. To view the titles and text of each order he issued in March, click here. Trump issued 46 executive orders in January 2025, more than any other month of his presidency. He issued 30 executive orders in February 2025, fewer…