GCSAA publishes specialized information on a frequent basis that drills down on top advocacy issues and activities.
Early voting turnout numbers this election year were impressive. Before any votes were cast on Election Day, more than 101 million people voted either by mail or in person, according to the U.S. Elections Project. In fact, the early turnout in 2020 was 73.6% of the TOTAL number of people who voted in 2016. When we looked at these early turnout figures, one question was whether the trend would continue through Election Day: Were people – during a pandemic – voting in greater numbers or were they merely moving their vote to an earlier, perhaps more convenient, time? The answer to that question is that 2020 was a record year for voting overall. In fact, more than 159 million voted in 2020 with many states still certifying their votes. That’s expected to be a total of 66.8% of all eligible voters, the highest turnout since 1908.
This weekend marks the end of early, in-person voting in the following states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Many of these states are the must-win “battleground states” for both President Trump and former Vice-President Biden, including Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin and the biggest prize of all: Florida. With early numbers in, here are some of the trends and how this might impact overall turnout.
On November 10, GCSAA’s Chava McKeel and Mark Johnson spoke to the Pesticide Education Task Force of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign about all of the golf industry’s efforts toward pollinator protection.
On November 11, I will be a presenter at the 8th annual Professional Women in Advocacy (PWIA) Conference. This year’s conference features twenty-five breakout sessions covering topics in Communications, Political Action Committees & Grassroots, Federal & State Government Relations and Professional Development.
It’s less than a week to go before the election on November 3. Many Americans have taken advantage of early voting laws in their states and have already cast their ballots. But whether you have voted or still plan to vote on the 3rd, it is important that when you do, you post your picture on social media along with “#golfvotes”.
Voting is one of the most important rights and responsibilities we have as U.S. citizens. Every vote counts!
Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris took the stage in the first and only vice presidential debate of the 2020 election. Over the course of 90 minutes, viewers were treated to more substantive policy discussions than the prior week’s presidential debate across nine topic areas including the coronavirus pandemic, the economy, and health care. Below are some of our topline takeaways from the debate:
Source: Forbes-Tate Partners who manages the We Are Golf coalition in Washington, DC.
The first of three planned presidential debates between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden took place on Sept. 29 in Cleveland, Ohio. This debate will ultimately be remembered for cross-talk, interruptions, personal attacks, and responses about extremist groups and the integrity of the election, rather than as a contest of ideas. However, below are a few top-line takeaways from what was largely a chaotic 90 minutes.
Early voting for the 2020 Elections has started in your state! Although Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, some states – including yours – have already started voting. Voting is a key part of the democratic process and a vital part of our nation’s political system. By voting you can make your voice heard, not just as a citizen but also as an advocate of the golf course management industry. Below are tools and resources to ensure that you are prepared to vote according to your state’s guidelines. Once you have voted, don’t forget to share a selfie on social media using the #GolfVotes hashtag!
On election day November 3, not only is the Presidency on the ballot. Control of the Senate and the House of Representatives is also at stake. That means 1/3 of the Senate and all 435 House members are on the ballot as well. Control of Congress impacts the policy agenda for whomever takes the oath of office on Inauguration Day. With so much at stake, here’s your guide to watching the congressional elections like a political pro.
Election day is November 3rd and early voting is already underway in many states. To understand how the presidential race between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will be decided means focusing on several battleground states. Here’s your guide to watching these states like a political pro.
On September 16, 2020, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing to discuss the ongoing implementation of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), the successor to the 2015 Clean Water Rule (commonly known as “WOTUS” rule). While some Senators on the committee spent time during the hearing attacking the legitimacy of the NWPR, it was notable that others, including witnesses, discussed its implementation.
H.R. 7940 and S. 4406 have recently been introduced in Congress and would jeopardize the continued innovation and availability of pesticide products. These bills impose an unscientific, unbalanced, politically driven process which would unnecessarily remove pest control options from those who need them to safely grow crops, perform golf course management, protect schools and hospitals, and control pathogens and disease vectors.
With less than 60 days before the election, the latest COVID-19 relief bill introduced in the U.S. Senate a week ago indicates there’s still a long way to go before Republicans and Democrats come to a consensus. The “Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act” (“Act”) has been described as a “skinny COVID bill”. While it has a $500 billion price tag, it does not include a number of provisions Democrats and many Republicans want, including direct rebate checks for individuals and financial assistance for states and cities.
Written by: Michael Lee
In mid-March, things began changing. You could feel it. The novel coronavirus was upon us and it wasn’t going to fade quickly. No, in fact, it was going to spread and cause life altering impacts on every single one of us.
As our nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic it is imperative that we have the healthiest and strongest population possible. Physical activity is a key factor in general health and wellbeing, as well as in positive COVID-19 outcomes.
Now, the need for policy encouraging physical activity has been exacerbated by the pandemic’s closing of gyms, parks, and other common sites for exercise. Thankfully, a piece of legislation aimed at addressing this need already exists. The “Personal Health Investment Today Act” (S. 680 and H.R. 1679, commonly referred to as the PHIT Act) provides consumer driven economic stimulus aimed at incentivizing physical activity as a low-cost preventative health measure.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Congress is considering a 4th stimulus bill to help businesses and families. The latest version of this legislation is the “Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act”, introduced last week by the Senate Republican leadership. The question is whether Senate Republicans can reconcile their differences with the House Democrats - who have already passed their own legislation (the “HEROES Act”) - in order to get a bill to the President’s desk for signature.
On July 1, GCSAA joined nearly 2,500 signatories in urging Congress to extend support to nonprofit associations during COVID-19. Specifically, GCSAA and others called for Congress to include nonprofit 501(c)(6) organizations in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and to reauthorize the PPP until at least the end of 2020. Additionally, GCSAA called on Congress to pass the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020.
On June 22, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) to suspend the issuance of temporary and seasonal worker visas through December 31, 2020. Specifically, the EO suspends the issuance of any new H-1B, H-2B, H-4, L-1, and some J-1 visas, thereby prohibiting the entry of these workers into the United States. This extends and expands upon a similar suspension that has been in place since April 22. While the EO is a response to the high unemployment the nation is experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many who use H-2B visas, including golf superintendents, believe it will hurt their ability to fill positions that otherwise will remain vacant.