The #UnitedStates federal government updated how it classifies people by #race & #ethnicity for the 1st time in over a quarter-century, aiming to better capture an increasingly #diverse country & give policymakers a fuller view of the #Americans their work impacts.
Karin Orvis, the #UnitedStates’ chief statistician, said in a Thurs blog post on the WH website that the revision will “enhance our ability to compare information & data across federal agencies, & also to understand how well federal programs serve a #diverse#America.”
… Such data guides how federal ofcls analyze everything from #HealthCare outcomes to the redrawing of #CongressionalDistricts.
#SouthCarolina to use #CongressionalMap deemed #unconstitutional #SCOTUS heard arguments on the redistricting case in Oct but has yet to rule🤬, essentially running out the clock for the #2024election. A #federal#court ruled Thurs that time had run out to draw a new congressional district in #SC & said the state could use its existing map even though it had earlier determined that map was unconstitutional.
The panel of 3 judges last year concluded that #SouthCarolina’s #Republican-led #legislature “exiled” 30k #BlackVoters from the district to make it safer for a #White#GOP incumbent, Rep #NancyMace. #SC appealed, & both sides asked #SCOTUS to expedite the case to ensure a final ruling was in place well ahead of #election season. The justices heard arguments in October but have yet to rule.
During arguments, a majority of the #SupremeCourt appeared inclined to reinstate the lines the state had wanted. 5 months later, the justices have yet to rule. Both sides had asked the justices to rule by Jan.
By hanging onto the case, #SCOTUS effectively allowed the clock to run out for the #2024election.