Category: Federal-State Relations

24 Democratic Attorneys General Back Biden’s Attempt to Block Texas Abortion Law

Nearly half the attorneys general in the United States on Wednesday backed President Joe Biden’s attempt to block a new anti-abortion law in Texas. The 24 attorneys general, all Democrats, said the new law is “in direct contravention of nearly a half century of Supreme Court precedent” and has “banned nearly all pre-viability abortions within…


States Gear Up for Legal Fight Over Vaccine Mandate

Nearly all Republican-led states have voiced opposition to the vaccine mandate announced by President Joe Biden last week. Many of them have vowed to fight the mandate in court, but held back on voicing specific legal strategies as details of the Biden administration’s policy remain unknown. The mandate would require businesses with more than 100 employees…


Florida Attorney General Files Amicus Brief Over Vaccine Mandates

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—Last week, President Joe Biden ordered the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to produce rules mandating U.S. businesses with 100 or more employees to require vaccines for their workers if they refuse to get tested. On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed to fight against the vaccine mandates and uphold Florida law…


Arizona AG Sues Biden Administration Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Arizona filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s sweeping COVID-19 vaccine mandates that affect federal employees, most healthcare workers, and employees at numerous private businesses—likely the first lawsuit that was filed against the policies. “The federal government cannot force people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Biden Administration is once again flouting our laws and…


Courts Will Rule Against Biden on Vaccine Mandate Penalties: Alan Dershowitz

Courts will likely agree that the federal government has the authority to enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates but will argue that the rules and penalties cannot be enforced, said Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz. President Joe Biden last week said that he will direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to mandate that employees…


FBI in New Jersey Encourages People to Report Hate Crimes

The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) Office in Newark, New Jersey, will launch an advertising campaign aimed at informing people about hate crimes. The campaign will also encourage people who have witnessed or experienced hate crimes to report them to the FBI. FBI Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch, Jr. announced in a statement…


Biden Threatens Legal Action Against Governors Who Ban Forcing School Children to Wear Masks

Governors who ban school mask mandates could face legal action from the federal government, President Joe Biden warned Wednesday. Biden, appearing after cutting short his vacation, said that he was directing Education Secretary Miguel Cardona “to take additional steps to protect our children.” “This includes using his oversight authority and legal action, if appropriate, against…


US Reps. Tell AG Garland: States, Not DOJ, Have Authority Over How Elections Are Run

The ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland criticizing his recent directive to the Justice Department (DOJ) on resetting elections to pre-pandemic laws. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday told…


States Set to Begin Redistricting After Census Publishes 2020 Data

Most states have had to delay their redistricting efforts because of the U.S. Census Bureau’s pandemic-related challenges. On Thursday, the Bureau officially released its 2020 census data, which sets states up to begin quickly drawing up their districts ahead of state and federal elections. The 2020 Census data shows overall population growth, with the population…


DOJ Sues Texas Over Abbott’s Order to Restrict Illegal Aliens Amid Pandemic

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit on Friday against the state of Texas and Governor Greg Abbott over an executive order he issued to limit the ground transportation of illegal aliens. Abbott, a Republican, said that the executive order issued Wednesday is intended to “reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure” in Texas communities, amid an…