The Policy Tracker
The Public Policy Desk on Ballotpedia produced this weekly Policy Tracker to report on major national and state public policy news, covering budgets, civil liberties, education, elections, energy and the environment, healthcare, and pensions. Publication of the Policy Tracker was discontinued in October 2016, but we are still covering important policy developments at both the federal and state levels for The Tap.
- Public policy news for the week of October 17, 2016
Federal judge orders Florida to extend voter registration deadline
- Click to learn more about voting in Florida.
On October 12, federal judge Mark E. Walker ordered Florida election officials to extend the state's voter registration deadline by six days—moving the deadline from October 12 to October 18—in response to Hurricane Matthew. On October 10, Walker had issued an emergency order extending the original deadline by one day, from October 11 to October 12. On October 9, the Democratic Party of Florida filed suit against Gov. Rick Scott (R), arguing in their complaint that a failure to extend the deadline would constitute a violation of the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution and the Voting Rights Act because those citizens who were required to evacuate had fewer days to register than those who were not displaced by the storm. On October 6, Scott maintained that he would not extend the voter registration deadline. "Everybody has had a lot of time to register. On top of that, we have lots of opportunities to vote: early voting, absentee voting, Election Day. So I don't intend to make any changes."[1][2]
Democratic Minnesota governor says ACA "no longer affordable
- Click to learn more about the recent issues with the health insurance exchanges.
During an October 12 conference addressing Minnesota's individual health insurance market, Governor Mark Dayton (D) commented that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is "no longer affordable" for residents. Dayton was a strong proponent of the law during implementation and declared a few years ago that the law was working for Minnesotans. According to the Associated Press, he is the "only Democratic governor to publicly suggest the law isn't working as intended." Insurance premiums in the state's individual market will rise by between 50 and 67 percent in 2017, and state regulators have characterized the market as being in "a state of emergency." Dayton called on Congress to correct the law's "deficiencies" and said, "The reality is the Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable for increasing numbers of people."[3]
The health insurance exchanges were created under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, and serve as a platform where individuals without employer-sponsored insurance can browse and purchase plans. Nationwide, rising premiums and fewer health plan choices on the exchanges have led some to question the sustainability of the ACA's model of health insurance, while others have argued that they are part of an adjustment period as insurers learn the new individual market.[4][5]
U.S. Justice Department declines to prosecute EPA employee for mine spill
- Click to learn more about the Gold King Mine spill.
The U.S. Department of Justice will not prosecute an unnamed employee at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for his involvement in the toxic spill at the Gold King Mine in Colorado in August 2015. The spill occurred when EPA personnel and a company under EPA contract triggered the release of more than 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater into the Animas River in Colorado. Over the last year, the EPA’s Office of Inspector General investigated the employee, who may have broken federal water pollution laws and made false statements to law enforcement officials about the spill. The EPA forwarded its findings to the U.S. attorney for Colorado, who declined to pursue charges against the EPA official. As a result, no one will be criminally prosecuted as a result of the inspector general's investigation, though the office will continue to investigate the incident.[6]
See also
Public policy in the 50 states
Footnotes
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Florida voter registration extended to next week after Hurricane Matthew," October 12, 2016
- ↑ Miami Herald, "Florida Democrats sue Gov. Scott over voter registration deadline," October 9, 2016
- ↑ Associated Press, "Democrat Dayton: Health law 'no longer affordable' for many," October 12, 2016
- ↑ Kaiser Health News, "Long-Term Stability Of ACA In Doubt As Insurers Continue To Jump Ship," August 17, 2016
- ↑ The Commonwealth Fund, "How Stable Are the ACA Marketplaces?" December 3, 2015
- ↑ Washington Examiner, "EPA employee in Colorado toxic spill will not be charged," October 12, 2016
