Tag: news
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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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Tennessee Representative Mike Carter dies
Tennessee state Representative Mike Carter (R) died from pancreatic cancer on May 15, 2021. Carter first won election to the 29th District on Nov. 6, 2012. He was subsequently re-elected four times, most recently in 2020. Governor Bill Lee (R) said in a post on Twitter, “I will miss Mike Carter who was a leader,…
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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,…
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A look back at government responses to the coronavirus pandemic, May 18-22, 2020
Although the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 21, 2020, it wasn’t until March when the novel coronavirus upended life for most Americans. Throughout that spring, states issued stay-at-home orders, closed schools, restricted travel, issued mask mandates, and changed election dates. Many of those policies remain in place today. Here…
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Montana governor signs bill adding restrictions to the initiative process
On May 14, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) signed House Bill 651 into law. Both chambers of the legislature passed the bill along party lines in the last week of April. All Republicans but one were in favor and all Democrats were opposed. House Bill 651 changes the laws governing the initiative process in Montana…
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At least 7 states amend mask requirements to align with updated CDC guidance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) amended its mask guidance May 13. The new guidance says fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in most indoor and outdoor public settings, regardless of the number of people gathered. The guidance still recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks and social distance at doctor’s…
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Clark Chapin confirmed as Connecticut’s Republican auditor of public accounts
Clark Chapin (R) assumed office as an auditor of public accounts in Connecticut on May 6. The Office of the Auditors of Public Accounts is a legislative agency in the Connecticut state government responsible for the state’s financial and accounting functions. Unlike any other state, Connecticut’s auditing agency is led by two partisan auditors—one Democrat…
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Alaska legislature confirms Treg Taylor as attorney general
A joint session of the Alaska Legislature voted 35-24 to confirm Treg Taylor as the state’s attorney general on May 11. Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) appointed Taylor as acting attorney general on Jan. 29 after Ed Sniffen resigned following allegations of sexual misconduct. Before Dunleavy appointed Taylor attorney general, Taylor served as deputy attorney general…
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Annette Ziegler becomes chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
Annette Ziegler became chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court on May 1, beginning a two-year term in that role. Ziegler succeeds Patience Roggensack, who had served as chief justice since April 2015. Ziegler was first elected to the court in 2007. She previously served as a Washington County Circuit Court judge, becoming the first…
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Charlie Crist announces he’s running for governor of Florida
U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D) announced he is running for governor of Florida on May 4. Crist is the first Democrat to declare he’s challenging incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who was first elected in 2018. Crist currently represents Florida’s 13th Congressional District and served as governor of Florida as a Republican from 2007 to…