2024 ends with a couple wins and a couple losses

Episode 48: 2024 ends with a couple wins and a couple losses – from cutting red tape to sinking the Press Act. The team met for the last podcast of 2024, discussing a couple of wins and more frustration with Virginia’s Governor Youngkin. On a positive note, Virginia Senator Mark Warner helped bring some wins by reducing health care reporting requirements. In another win, President Biden announced clemency for nearly 1,500 Americans, many involved in non-violent crimes. In frustrating news, Virginia’s Governor joined other Republican governors advocating for National Guard and law enforcement involvement in President-Elect Trump’s mass deportation plans. Chris shared some thoughts on Tom Cotton and his sinking of the Press Act, and the team recognized D17, the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. Advocating for a free press and free speech, the guys ended looking forward to a holiday break and returning in 2025.

 

Relevant links from this episode include:

 

Healthcare Reform:

• Lawmakers Applaud Congressional Passage of Bills to Reduce Burdensome Health Care Reporting Requirements for Employers
• The Employer Reporting Improvement Act. Full text of the Employer Reporting Improvement Act is available here.
• The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act. Full text of the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act is available here. 

 

Biden’s clemency actions:

• FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Clemency for Nearly 1,500 Americans
• Statement from President Joe Biden on Providing Clemency for Nearly 1,500 Individuals on Home Confinement and Pardons for 39 Individuals Convicted of Non-Violent Crimes
• Clemency Recipient List
• Biden commutes almost 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people, setting single-day record
• Biden grants clemency for nearly 1,500 people, the biggest single-day act of clemency in modern history
• Largest Single-Day Clemency Act in US Modern History Sees Biden Addre