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Philip Hamburger, a Columbia University law professor. He was referring to Chevron deference, a legal doctrine that held that in most cases courts should defer to federal agencies when it came to interpreting statutes. In June, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine. That ruling has unleashed a flood of legal challenges against regulatory decisions and will provide part of the legal basis for the incoming Trump’s administration’s efforts to cut spending through the new Department of Government Efficiency. (Washington Post – Dec. 8, 2024)
GOP lawmakers want to alter the way state supreme court justices are selected or elected. Some conservative causes in the states, notably abortion bans, have been undermined by court rulings.
The school board is considering a plan to use five of its properties to build 1,000 affordable housing units. It’s a strategy more California districts are pursuing.
Los Angeles County voters have approved changes that include an expansion of the county Board of Supervisors and creation of a separate executive leader. Reform advocates had pushed for such changes for decades and an atmosphere of scandal helped them succeed.
L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. She sponsored a ballot measure, narrowly approved by voters last month, which will expand the Board of Supervisors from five members to nine, while also creating an elected county executive. The county had not changed its governance structure for more than a century. (Governing – Dec. 9, 2024)
Charging motorists to drive in a large swath of Manhattan has been decades in the making, and the idea has had some success elsewhere in the world.
More hybrid vehicles are coming on the market because customers seem to lack the appetite for all-electric vehicles. The Trump administration may cut back on tax credits and other EV support.
Hoboken suffered a “massive” cybersecurity break. Personal information including payroll and health records of city workers – some dating back to 1987 – was stolen, along with information about residents who’d applied for rental assistance.
The Biden administration approved the state’s own plan to offer coverage to 42,000 families. But Gov. Ron DeSantis is worried about its requirement to offer coverage for a full year.
Phelan narrowly survived a primary challenge and lacked the support of a majority of House Republicans. Having angered conservatives with the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Phelan dropped out the day before leadership elections.
The number of states where adultery is on the books as a felony – Michigan, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. In 13 other states, adultery is a misdemeanor, although typically these laws are not enforced. Michigan legislators are attempting to remove this and other “zombie” laws from the books.
It makes sense that the Trump administration is looking for ways to cut spending. But the way they’re going about it is all wrong.
Black and Hispanic high schoolers in Texas who have to drive more than 30 minutes to a community college are more likely to forego college altogether, a new report finds.
The way to make the federal government more efficient on a permanent basis is not one-time cuts but devolving authority over many programs to state governments.
Future in Context
An expert offers insights on how government agencies, frequent targets online, can safeguard critical infrastructure and future-proof their cybersecurity. Also under consideration: artificial intelligence’s dual role in security.
The program brings together students from four universities. Coming from different backgrounds, they learn how to interact respectfully and absorb challenging perspectives.
There’s a lot of talk in Harrisburg about reducing regulations, but much of the economic development effort still focuses on tax credits. Four different programs meant to draw businesses have little to no participants.
Alexis Simpson, newly chosen as the Democratic leader in the New Hampshire House. Republicans, who increased their majority in November, reelected Sherman Packard to a third term as speaker on Wednesday. In his acceptance speech, Packard also emphasized the need for civility and cooperation between the parties. (New Hampshire Bulletin – Dec. 4, 2024)
Trump has vowed to eliminate the Department of Education in his second term. Even if he stops short, the administration will bring policy changes to colleges and universities and new scrutiny to diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
Cities in California and other states offer unhoused people transportation to somewhere else. But the number of people who can benefit is small, and it’s hard to tell what happens to them where they end up.
The Trump administration is likely to reverse some climate policies but local officials are determined to continue addressing impacts on their communities.
A judge has ruled unconstitutional the core of Act 10, the state’s famous 2011 law that ended collective bargaining for most public employees. Republican legislators vowed to appeal the decision.
Last month, Massachusetts voters approved a measure ending the requirement that students pass a test to graduate. In 2012, half the states required such tests, but the number will soon drop to a half-dozen.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, announcing he will run as an independent for governor of Michigan in 2026. He’s served as a Democrat as mayor. Like other swing states, Michigan tilted to the right in November, with Donald Trump carrying the state and Democrats losing their state House majority. Other prominent Democrats might have been tough for him to beat for the nomination, but Duggan argues an independent can govern more effectively and detoxify the political environment in Lansing. (AP – Dec. 4, 2024)
The city’s finances were already in poor shape but suffered a blow last month when voters rejected a $400 million-per-year sales tax hike.
Fearing political backlash, governors use their clemency powers far less than they once did. But it’s a powerful tool for addressing injustice.
Critics of liberalizing housing construction are concerned that looser zoning rules could make existing houses more expensive. Fortunately, this worry is somewhat overblown.
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