Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Sierra Club and Earthjustice Argue Against Illegal Coal Plant Extensions in Court
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 16 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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Sierra Club and Earthjustice Argue Against Illegal Coal Plant Extensions in Court
The court hears the first challenge to DOE's unlawful orders for the J.H. Campbell power plant in Michigan
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Washington, D.C. -- Today, Sierra Club and Earthjustice presented oral arguments before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in the legal challenge against the Department of Energy's illegal application of Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act.
In May 2025, DOE claimed there was an "energy emergency"
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 16 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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Sierra Club and Earthjustice Argue Against Illegal Coal Plant Extensions in Court
The court hears the first challenge to DOE's unlawful orders for the J.H. Campbell power plant in Michigan
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Washington, D.C. -- Today, Sierra Club and Earthjustice presented oral arguments before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in the legal challenge against the Department of Energy's illegal application of Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act.
In May 2025, DOE claimed there was an "energy emergency"and forced the J.H. Campbell power plant to remain online past its scheduled retirement. Since then, the "emergency" order has been re-issued four times. According to Consumers Energy, who owns the Campbell plant, these emergency orders cost over $600,000 dollars a day.
According to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator's most recent capacity auction, the region saw an increase in capacity independent of the DOE's forced extensions. Out of the 5.6 GW of new capacity in the region, more than half was provided by solar-powered generation. This further shows that the region J.H. Campbell serves does not have an "energy emergency", and the DOE lacks justification for these illegal extensions. Despite this added capacity, the states in MISO's footprint will have to continue to pay for these arbitrary and costly extensions.
"The administration is breaking the law to prevent the retirement of coal power plants. And the rising cost of those unlawful orders -- already hundreds of millions of dollars -- is poised to break the bank as Americans pay electric bills inflated by the administration's fixation on propping up the failing coal industry," said Earthjustice Senior Attorney Michael Lenoff.
"The Sierra Club will not stand by and let the administration illegally force coal plants to stay online while American families pay the price," said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Greg Wannier. "The Trump administration is using made-up emergencies to throw unpopular, expensive, and archaic coal plants a life line. These orders have already cost families far too much of their hard-earned money, and we will put an end to them."
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/sierra-club-and-earthjustice-argue-against-illegal-coal-plant-extensions-in-court
[Category: Environment]
National Taxpayers Union: Data Centers - New Tools Show Taxpayers Can Win on Water, Energy, Lower Tax Rates
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, May 16 -- The National Taxpayers Union issued the following news release on May 14, 2026:
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Data Centers: New Tools Show Taxpayers Can Win on Water, Energy, Lower Tax Rates
National Taxpayers Union (NTU) on Thursday announced publication of two comprehensive papers outlining how taxpayers can benefit from data centers and how policymakers should approach data center energy and water regulation. The papers are part of an NTU Policy Toolkit that will explore many aspects of the AI and data center debate.
As the construction of data centers across the U.S. increasingly
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, May 16 -- The National Taxpayers Union issued the following news release on May 14, 2026:
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Data Centers: New Tools Show Taxpayers Can Win on Water, Energy, Lower Tax Rates
National Taxpayers Union (NTU) on Thursday announced publication of two comprehensive papers outlining how taxpayers can benefit from data centers and how policymakers should approach data center energy and water regulation. The papers are part of an NTU Policy Toolkit that will explore many aspects of the AI and data center debate.
As the construction of data centers across the U.S. increasinglyemerges as a political flashpoint, the first analysis shows taxpayers can embrace new development with strategies to lower electricity rates and build local tax bases while using smart approaches on questions of energy and water usage.
"We are in an age of unprecedented technological development, and, with the right policy approach, it has the potential to pay tremendous dividends to our national economy as well as local communities," National Taxpayers Union President Pete Sepp said. "Public officials and informed citizens alike will find a wealth of information and analysis from NTU's policy team as well as outside experts on what could be the most transformative economic and fiscal issue of our time."
The second data center analysis is geared toward policy makers, making recommendations on issues such as:
* The real driver behind electricity prices
* The need for permitting reform and grid infrastructure upgrades
* How to increase competition while aligning incentives
* The right way for policymakers to approach the water-rights question.
Journalists should bookmark both papers and use them as references in future articles.
Interviews with authors of both papers are available, including:
* Pete Sepp, NTU President
* Nick Loris, NTU Fellow
* Debbie Jennings, NTUF Senior Policy Manager
* Matt Putnam, NTUF Policy Manager
NTU will publish additional reports with detailed analysis and recommendations on tax policy for data centers this summer.
National Taxpayers Union is the only free-market organization for taxpayers that unites effective advocacy with useful research about how to limit taxes, spending, and regulation at every level and branch of government--state, federal, administrative, and judicial.
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Original text here: https://www.ntu.org/publications/detail/data-centers-new-tools-show-taxpayers-can-win-on-water-energy-lower-tax-rates
[Category: Political]
Manhattan Institute: Report - Students for Fair Admissions Decision Reshapes Elite College Enrollment
NEW YORK, May 16 (TNSbrep) -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following news release:
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New Report: Students for Fair Admissions Decision Reshapes Elite College Enrollment
Analysis of new federal data reveals fewer Black and Hispanic freshmen, and more white and Asian freshmen, at highly selective schools
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During the litigation that culminated in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), Harvard, UNC, and many peer institutions argued that race-neutral admissions policies would not allow them to maintain the racial diversity they deemed necessary to their educational missions.
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 16 (TNSbrep) -- The Manhattan Institute issued the following news release:
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New Report: Students for Fair Admissions Decision Reshapes Elite College Enrollment
Analysis of new federal data reveals fewer Black and Hispanic freshmen, and more white and Asian freshmen, at highly selective schools
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During the litigation that culminated in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), Harvard, UNC, and many peer institutions argued that race-neutral admissions policies would not allow them to maintain the racial diversity they deemed necessary to their educational missions.Almost three years after the Supreme Court struck down the use of race as a factor in admissions, new federal data make it possible to test what happened next: Did elite universities' freshman classes change as predicted, or did some institutions' warnings to the Court prove overstated?
In a new Manhattan Institute report, fellow Robert VerBruggen analyzes the first broad federal data on freshman enrollment after SFFA, using IPEDS data covering more than 1,000 four-year colleges from 2010 to 2024. VerBruggen finds that the most selective colleges experienced noticeable, though modest, racial demographic shifts after SFFA.
Key findings include:
* Black and Hispanic freshman representation declined at elite schools, while white and Asian enrollment often increased.
* At Ivy League schools, Black enrollment fell from about 11% to 8%; Hispanic enrollment fell from 16% to 15%; white enrollment rose from 35% to 37%; and Asian enrollment rose from 30% to 32%.
* Test-score requirements may have effects similar to SFFA and shift enrollment away from Black and Hispanic applicants at selective schools.
VerBruggen also stresses that the data vary considerably across schools, and that a lack of demographic change does not necessarily indicate noncompliance with SFFA, especially so soon after the decision. That said, the report calls for increased scrutiny where warranted, as well as more detailed admissions transparency.
Click here to read the full report (https://media4.manhattan-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/the-students-for-fair-admissions-fallout-an-analysis-of-freshman-enrollment-by-race.pdf).
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Original text here: https://manhattan.institute/article/new-report-students-for-fair-admissions-decision-reshapes-elite-college-enrollment
[Category: Sociological]
League of Women Voters of Colorado Challenges One-Party Elections Law in Federal Court
WASHINGTON, May 16 [Category: Political] -- The League of Women Voters issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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League of Women Voters of Colorado Challenges One-Party Elections Law in Federal Court
DENVER - Today, the League of Women Voters of Colorado and two individual voters filed a federal lawsuit (https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/5.15.26%20D.%20Colo.%2026-cv-02103%20dckt%20000001_000%20filed%202026-05-15.pdf) against HB 25-1315, a state law passed in May 2025 that provides for one-party elections to fill state legislative vacancies in certain circumstances.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 16 [Category: Political] -- The League of Women Voters issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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League of Women Voters of Colorado Challenges One-Party Elections Law in Federal Court
DENVER - Today, the League of Women Voters of Colorado and two individual voters filed a federal lawsuit (https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/5.15.26%20D.%20Colo.%2026-cv-02103%20dckt%20000001_000%20filed%202026-05-15.pdf) against HB 25-1315, a state law passed in May 2025 that provides for one-party elections to fill state legislative vacancies in certain circumstances.The plaintiffs in this matter are represented by McDermott Will & Schulte and the Law Office of Bryan L. Sells, LLC.
"Colorado state legislators vote on laws affecting every Coloradan, so a law disenfranchising voters based on their party alone silences them," said Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice for the League of Women Voters. "We are proud to stand up for voters whenever we see unfairness in the political process, especially when it takes away the voice of voters."
"Every eligible voter deserves a say in who represents them in the state legislature -- no matter their political party," said Beth Hendrix, executive director for the League of Women Voters of Colorado. "The League seeks to restore integrity to vacancy elections and is proud to stand for the principle that all voters decide their representatives, not the other way around."
To fill vacant state legislative seats, Colorado uses vacancy committees, which are composed largely of one party's officials and insiders. Many state legislators in Colorado often resign before their terms are over, requiring appointment by a vacancy committee. In fact, by April 2025, nearly a quarter of Colorado's legislators had been appointed by these small party-controlled committees.
In May 2025, the Colorado Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, HB 25-1315, creating a new process for filling state legislative vacancies. Under this law, in certain circumstances, a vacancy committee selects a replacement legislator to serve until the next regular election. In that election, voting is limited to voters affiliated with the same political party as the previous officeholder, as well as unaffiliated voters. For example, if the prior legislator was a Democrat, only registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may participate. However, the individual elected through this process will go on to vote on laws that affect all Coloradans.
"The right to vote for your state representative doesn't depend on which box you checked when you registered," said Bryan Sells, co-counsel for the plaintiffs. "HB 25-1315 turns a general election into a closed primary and strips tens of thousands of Coloradans of their voice in choosing who governs them. The Supreme Court settled this more than fifty years ago in Kramer v. Union Free School District, and Colorado's legislature can't unsettle it now."
"Entrenching one political party, regardless of which political party, is inimical to the Constitution," said Michael Dockterman, partner for McDermott Will & Schulte. "We are proud to represent the League of Women Voters in their effort to maintain free and fair elections open to all of the voters in the district."
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Original text here: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-colorado-challenges-one-party-elections-law-federal
Fort Collins Laboratory Closes; Nearly 70 Cats and Dogs Liberated: PETA Statement
NORFOLK, Virginia, May 16 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following statement on May 15, 2026:
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Fort Collins Laboratory Closes; Nearly 70 Cats and Dogs Liberated: PETA Statement
Fort Collins, Colo. - Please see the following statement from PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch regarding the closure of Red Beast Enterprises Inc.--a Fort Collins laboratory doing business as the loftily named High Quality Research, which tested drugs and other products on animals in crude ways. Red Beast is releasing nearly 70 cats and dogs to Kindness
... Show Full Article
NORFOLK, Virginia, May 16 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following statement on May 15, 2026:
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Fort Collins Laboratory Closes; Nearly 70 Cats and Dogs Liberated: PETA Statement
Fort Collins, Colo. - Please see the following statement from PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch regarding the closure of Red Beast Enterprises Inc.--a Fort Collins laboratory doing business as the loftily named High Quality Research, which tested drugs and other products on animals in crude ways. Red Beast is releasing nearly 70 cats and dogs to KindnessRanch, a Hartville, Wyoming, organization that rehabilitates animals used in experiments.
Finally out of their cages, Red Beast's surviving victims will now have what every cat and dog deserves--the opportunity to experience joy, love, and respect as members of a family. PETA's undercover investigation inside Red Beast found dogs and cats warehoused in bleak conditions, left to suffer from untreated ailments, and subjected to agonizing "debarking" mutilations without pain relief. PETA's findings sparked federal regulatory action and widespread protests, in addition to paving the way for these cats and dogs to be liberated and this animal prison to finally be closed down.
PETA's investigation of Red Beast prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cite the company for more than 200 violations of federal Animal Welfare Act regulations between February and July 2025. More than 50,000 people urged Dr. Sue VandeWoude, dean of Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, to reconsider allowing faculty--including Dr. Michael Lappin--to keep conducting experiments at Red Beast. PETA's investigator also rescued Temple, a dog born at the notorious Ridglan Farms Inc. in Wisconsin--which was recently forced to surrender its license--and kept for two years in a barren pen at Red Beast. She has since been adopted into a loving home.
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PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to experiment on"--points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. Broadcast-quality video footage from the group's investigation of Red Beast is available here, and photographs from the investigation are available here. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
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Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/fort-collins-laboratory-closes-nearly-70-cats-and-dogs-liberated-peta-statement/
[Category: Animals]
Common Cause: Trump vs. IRS Settlement Would Be an Abuse of Presidential Power
NEW YORK, May 16 -- Common Cause - New York issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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Trump v. IRS Settlement Would Be an Abuse of Presidential Power
Common Cause issued a statement following press reports that the DOJ and the White House are actively weighing a settlement in President Trump's sham lawsuit against the IRS. In February, Common Cause and former IRS and DOJ officials filed an amicus brief urging the court to proactively address the clear conflicts of interest in this case and protect taxpayer dollars.
On April 29, the court appointed several independent attorneys
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, May 16 -- Common Cause - New York issued the following news release on May 15, 2026:
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Trump v. IRS Settlement Would Be an Abuse of Presidential Power
Common Cause issued a statement following press reports that the DOJ and the White House are actively weighing a settlement in President Trump's sham lawsuit against the IRS. In February, Common Cause and former IRS and DOJ officials filed an amicus brief urging the court to proactively address the clear conflicts of interest in this case and protect taxpayer dollars.
On April 29, the court appointed several independent attorneysto assist it, an action which Common Cause specifically called for in our amicus brief. Today, these attorneys filed a friend-of-the-court brief that underscores the severity of the conflicts of interest in this lawsuit - including DOJ leadership's "personal loyalty" to President Trump.
Trump and DOJ appear to be rushing to settle this case in order to avoid an embarrassing judicial ruling at a court hearing scheduled for May 27. Reports suggest that the settlement options include a commitment for the IRS not to audit the president or his family members - a massive breach of protocol that would readily invite tax evasion. Other reports suggest the president is seeking the establishment of a $1.7 billion fund to compensate anyone who alleges they were harmed by the Biden Administration's "weaponization" of the legal system, including violent January 6th insurrectionists. The fund would reportedly operate with no oversight, no transparency, and no limits on presidential control - essentially, a slush fund for Trump's favored allies.
In light of these alarming developments, Common Cause sent a letter to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees today urging them to speak out against any potential settlement in this baseless lawsuit.
Statement of Abigail Bellows, Common Cause Senior Policy Director for Anti-Corruption & Accountability
"Presidents should not be allowed to use their power for personal gain. Any settlement is unacceptable, whether it involves a $10 billion check, non-monetary benefits - such as dodging IRS audits, or a new slush fund from which Trump can pay out his allies, including violent insurrectionists. These measures would enable tax evasion, invite corruption, and reward criminality.
"The president is racing to settle this case behind closed doors for one reason: to avoid a judicial ruling that would show the world he is trying to use the federal government as his personal piggy bank. If DOJ caves to Trump's pressure and settles, it could open the door to even more brazen attempts to bend our justice system to the president's will. Congress must swiftly condemn this lawsuit and pass the Ban Presidential Plunder of Taxpayer Funds Act."
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Original text here: https://www.commoncause.org/press/trump-v-irs-settlement-would-be-an-abuse-of-presidential-power/
[Category: Political]
Brady Applauds Gov. Spanberger for Signing Slate of Gun Violence Prevention Bills, Including Banning Untraceable "Ghost Guns"
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release:
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Brady Applauds Gov. Spanberger for Signing Slate of Gun Violence Prevention Bills, Including Banning Untraceable "Ghost Guns"
New legislation also ensures gun violence victims and survivors can hold the gun industry accountable in court, promotes safe firearm storage, and bans the future sale of assault weapons.
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RICHMOND, VA, May 15, 2026 -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a life-saving slate of gun violence prevention bills into law, including legislation to ban ghost guns, to provide
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence issued the following news release:
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Brady Applauds Gov. Spanberger for Signing Slate of Gun Violence Prevention Bills, Including Banning Untraceable "Ghost Guns"
New legislation also ensures gun violence victims and survivors can hold the gun industry accountable in court, promotes safe firearm storage, and bans the future sale of assault weapons.
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RICHMOND, VA, May 15, 2026 -- Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a life-saving slate of gun violence prevention bills into law, including legislation to ban ghost guns, to providea pathway for survivors and victims of gun violence to hold the gun industry accountable for harm, and to ban the future sale of assault weapons. Virginia also becomes the sixth state to pass a "school notification" law, requiring schools to send information home to educate parents and guardians on the risks of "family fire" and child access to unsecured firearms. Brady has spent decades advocating for these measures.
Brady President Kris Brown, a native Virginian and Virginia Tech alum, said:
This is a historic day for Virginians. I grew up here and raised my daughters here, and in all my years of leading Brady, I have never been more hopeful than I am today. In a Commonwealth where someone is killed with a firearm every seven hours, these monumental laws represent countless families spared from unspeakable heartbreak. Under Gov. Abigail Spanberger's leadership, Virginia is fighting on behalf of families and survivors of gun violence, ensuring that the Commonwealth can be a place where we can all live free from fear of being shot. These transformative gun laws have been championed by Brady, our grassroots advocates, and our state partners for years, and we are proud to help usher in a new day in Virginia.
Virginians voted last November to put an end to years of deadly vetoes on gun safety legislation. The Commonwealth deserves elected officials who side with our children and families, not gun lobby profits.
The package of life-saving slate of new gun violence prevention laws includes:
* School Notification (SB 109 / HB 201); sponsored by Sen. Pekarsky, Del. Cohen
* Industry Accountability/Civil Liability Standards (SB 27 / HB 21); sponsored by Sens. Ebbin & Carroll-Foy, Del. Helmer
* Ban on Ghost Guns (SB 323 / HB 40); sponsored by Sen. Ebbin, Del. Simon
* Domestic Firearms Relinquishment (SB 38 / HB 93); sponsored by Sen. Favola, Del. Bennett-Parker
* Broadening Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence (SB 160) / HB 19); sponsored by Sen. Perry, Del. McClure
* Ban on Firearms on College Campuses (SB 272 / HB 626); sponsored by Sen. Deeds, Del. Callsen
* Expansion of Risk Orders to Include Family/Household Members & Licensed Mental Health Practitioners (HB 901 / SB 495); sponsored by Del. Sullivan, Sen. Deeds
* Education & Training for K-12 and University Threat Assessment Teams on Risk Orders (HB 1071); sponsored by Del. Laufer
* Secure Storage in Vehicles (HB 110 / SB 496); sponsored by Sen. Marsden, Del. Laufer
* Concealed Carry Reciprocity Fix (SB 115); sponsored by Sen. Pekarsky
* Law Enforcement Risk Order Training Requirement (HB 896); sponsored by Del. Sullivan
* Updating Concealed Handgun Permit Competency Requirements (HB 916); sponsored by Del. Lopez
* SRO Reporting Requirements (HB 1096); sponsored by Del. Singh
* Ban on Firearms in Hospitals (SB 173 / HB 229); sponsored by Sen. Williams-Graves, Del. Hernandez
* Child Access Prevention Expansion (SB 348 / HB 871); sponsored by Sen. Boysko, Del. Downey
* Expansion of No-Firearm Zone Around Polling Locations (HB 909); sponsored by Del. Shin
* Firearm Give-Back Program (HB 702); sponsored by Del. Cole
* Violence Intervention & Prevention Research (SB 364 / HB 969); sponsored by Sen. Carroll Foy
* Hate Crimes Misdemeanor Prohibition (HB 1015); sponsored by Del. Tran
* Age Limits on Firearm Purchases (SB 643 / HB 1525); sponsored by Sen. Surovell, Del. McGuire
* Assault Weapons Sale Ban (SB 749 / HB 217); sponsored by Sen. Salim, Del. Helmer
* Prohibition on Carrying Loaded Firearms (SB 727 / HB 1524); sponsored by Sen. Jones, Del. McGuire
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Brady has one powerful mission -- to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It's in our hands.
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Original text here: https://www.bradyunited.org/press/virginia-spanberger-gun-violence-laws
[Category: Political]
