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Administrative Agencies
By Yvette Farnsworth Baker Administrative agencies are a powerful but underappreciated component of federal, state, and local government. They are not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, yet they’re sometimes called the fourth branch of government. Between 2019 and 2020, Congress passed only 344 laws, while federal administrative agencies enacted 5,838 rules. Understanding administrative agencies is a critical part of advocating for ethical governance. What are federal administrative agencies? Federal administrative agencies are delegated power from the executive or legislative branch of government. They are tasked with executing and enforcing laws passed by the legislative branch. Often, when a law is passed it requires more detailed rules and guidance to be…
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Official Statement Regarding Possible Reinstatement of Immigrant Family Detention
On May 11, 2023, the federal COVID-19 public health emergency order will expire, and the use of Title 42 as a mechanism to control immigration will come to an end. In anticipation of an expected increase of migrants and asylum seekers at the border, the Biden administration is reportedly exploring new policies, including a proposed new asylum rule and a potential reinstatement of family detention. Comprehensive immigration reform will be necessary to fully address the challenge of administering our borders. Until that can be achieved, we encourage the president to seek solutions that protect the health and welfare of the vulnerable. The negative impacts — developmental, emotional, and physical —…
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Electoral Count Reform Act Advocacy — a Timeline
MWEG began working on advocating for an update to the Electoral Count Act in the summer of 2021 and continued working on this until the Electoral Count Reform Act was passed as part of the omnibus spending bill in December 2022. Following our pattern of member engagement, we worked to inform through library pieces and other content, invite to act through direct calls to action to write letters or make phone calls, and involve through constituent meetings with legislators as well as op-eds and letters to the editor. 2021 July Began laying the groundwork by researching the issue and reaching out to key legislators and coalition organizations October Began initial…
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MWEG Participates in Interfaith Press Conference for Child Tax Credit Expansion
On December 15, 2022, Mormon Women for Ethical Government participated in a press conference in Washington, D.C., with an interfaith group of leaders and organizations working to ameliorate child poverty. The goal was to make a personal and faith-based case for the Child Tax Credit. For 25 years, child tax credits have proven to be an effective tool for reducing child poverty and providing significant support for growing families. MWEG member Steffani Thomas spoke about her family’s experience with the Child Tax Credit and shared how her support for this policy is linked to her personal faith. The full text of Steffani’s remarks is found below. A link to a…
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Call to Action: Ask Your Members of Congress to Support the Child Tax Credit
When the expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) expired at the end of 2021, nearly 19 million of the poorest children stopped receiving aid because their parents’ income was too low to qualify for the tax credit. The expiration of the credit functioned as a de facto tax increase for our most vulnerable families, just as they were struggling to manage the ramifications of significant inflation. Meanwhile, parents earning up to $400,000 per year continued to receive up to $2,000 per child per year. Negotiations are currently underway to reinstate some provisions of the expanded tax credit and again make it fully refundable — meaning families could receive the…
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Faith on the Frontlines: Praying for Election Day
On Monday, November 7, 2022, Faith in Public Life hosted a virtual prayer vigil during which a multifaith and multiracial coalition united to pray for a safe and certified election. MWEG Co-Executive Director Emma Petty Addams was invited to represent our members and gave remarks that spoke to our commitment to the “voice of the people.” The video can be found here, and the full text can be found below. In the Book of Mormon, a text sacred to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a righteous king named Mosiah instituted democracy among his people. He said: “Now it is not common that the voice of the…
