All posts by Justin Levitt
House for DC Statehood
Eleanor Holmes Norton points out
that today is the first time the US House has endorsed DC statehood.
House Passes H.R. 1
Final vote: 234-193.
UPDATE: The text of the whole thing [will be] here. (As of 7:30pm ET on 3/8/19, the only text appears to be from an earlier version: the version actually considered is a combination of this… Continue reading
“125 Democrats and 1 Republican Vote to Lower Voting Age to 16”
The Daily Caller on Wednesday’s
(unsuccessful) vote on an amendment to HR 1 that would have lowered the
voting age to 16. This might also have
been unconstitutional, for the same reasons Derek
mentioned here.
“House votes in favor of illegal immigrant voting”
Well, that’s the Washington Times headline. But no, no they didn’t. They turned back an attempt to add a nonbinding (and likely unconstitutional) resolution (here’s a version of the text in last year’s Congress).
“America the Disinterested”
US News & World Report notes
the struggle to boost electoral participation beyond the fight over administrative
barriers.
“Paul Manafort sentenced to about 4 years in prison in Virginia case”
In line with sentencing guidelines, prosecutors had recommended 19-24 years; Judge Ellis sentenced Manafort to 47 months.
As a reminder, this case (in Virginia) concerned tax fraud and bank fraud. The sentencing in Manafort’s DC case (after a plea… Continue reading
“A nanny state? Vermont town elects goat as honorary mayor”
I look forward to the expose.
“Justice Dept. to Step Up Enforcement of Foreign Influence Laws”
DOJ announces a step up in enforcement of statutes regulating foreign influence, including the Foreign Agents Registration Act … including a new team headed by a former Mueller prosecutor.
And a useful thread here explaining the import.
“The Geography of Partisan Prejudice”
A fascinating mapping of estimates of affective polarization (how Americans feel about members of the opposing major party). The polling question isn’t new, but I think that mapping the results onto counties by their demographic composition might be.
(Note: this… Continue reading
“Congressional Tenure Steadily Increasing”
On the occasion
of Don Young’s becoming the longest-serving Republican in the history of the
House, U.S. Term Limits reviews
the historical tenure patterns for members of Congress.
“Republicans Say Democrats’ Election Reform Bill Doesn’t Address Ballot Harvesting”
McConnell picks on one thing missing from H.R. 1.
More on third parties collecting and returning absentee ballots, in California, here.
Chuck Schumer on his voting rights priorities
He picks his
favorite parts of H.R. 1.
“House Democrats Will Vote on Sweeping Anti-Corruption Legislation. Here’s What’s in It.”
The New York Times runs
down a brief summary of H.R. 1.