Good policy decisions depend on reliable data. And few, if any, data sets are more important than what is produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. Unfortunately, the Trump administration has proposed a sweeping new rule that would dramatically restrict what data the bureau collects. Among other things, the rule would change who gets counted every 10 years – only citizens and lawful residents – and would bar the bureau from asking questions about race and ethnicity. The Brennan Center for Justice writes that the rule would be deeply harmful – and likely unconstitutional:
Beyond funding, excluding millions of individuals from the census would crack the statistical foundation on which every industry and sector in the nation is built. Federal agencies use the census to generate monthly job numbers, inflation rates, and poverty statistics. Academics and researchers across fields use the census’s population figures to accurately calculate measures such as crime rates, the spread of disease, and economic activity. (The rule’s related proposal to eliminate certain demographic questions would make these efforts even more challenging.) Local governments make decisions on critical issues — including school budgets and housing supply — based on census information. Businesses such as retailers and restaurants rely on census data for insights into consumer preferences and where they should open new locations. The rule would insert uncertainty into nearly every aspect of Americans’ day-to-day lives.
The comment period for the proposed rule was recently extended from Oct. 13 to Nov. 2. More information on the proposed rule change is available here. Public comments can be submitted here.
More Louisianans have degrees
The good news is that more Louisiana adults than ever have a “credential of value” – a record 54% last year, compared with 44% a decade ago. The bad news, a Times-Picayune | Baton Rouge Advocate editorial notes, is that broad disparities remain along racial and economic lines, as historically Black colleges and universities still trail their peers in funding and graduation rates. Building on these gains will require sustained investment, even as the state faces fiscal headwinds in the coming years.
We know funding for higher education in our state is always precarious, but these trends should make it clear that we need to change that reality. Similarly, our community and technical colleges, which are serving a growing population of students, need to be treated like the important players they are. Expanding access to postsecondary education will only accelerate the positive momentum we’re seeing.
A Medicare for All tipping point?
The cost of employer-sponsored health insurance coverage is expected to continue climbing far faster than incomes and the rate of inflation in 2027. That means higher costs for companies and their workers, which leaves less money for pay raises. A former Kentucky congressman believes America is getting close to a tipping point where there will be no choice but to adopt Medicare for All – a single-payer health care plan that provides a basic level of coverage, which Americans could supplement with private plans if they choose. John Yarmuth in the Kentucky Lantern:
Already this year, millions of Americans have lost their health insurance because Republicans eliminated the federal subsidies that made it possible for them to afford coverage. Millions more will decide to be uninsured for financial reasons as premiums rise by 15-20% next year. We are reaching a tipping point at which the entire country — individuals and employers — will have to face the reality that has been around for some time. There is no option for our citizens other than a federally operated insurance system that covers everyone, has the power to control costs, and will eliminate the huge expenses that we all bear for the parts of the system that don’t make anyone healthier, including insurance company profits.
Who should pay for climate change?
The U.S. Supreme Court opened its 2026-27 term on Monday, and at the top of the docket is a case with Louisiana echoes: Should state and local governments be allowed to hold oil and gas companies liable for the effects of climate change? The case originated in Boulder, Colo., which sued two oil companies. The New York Times’ Abbie Van Sickle reports that the court’s conservative majority appeared to side with Big Oil.
With one conservative missing — Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. recused himself from the case days before the argument — there was the possibility that Boulder would pick up the single vote from the court’s remaining five conservatives it would need to prevail. A 4-to-4 tie in the case would leave in place a Colorado Supreme Court ruling against the oil companies. Still, some of the conservative justices appeared concerned about whether a ruling for Boulder would flood the courts with climate change lawsuits.
A new Louisiana law, passed earlier this year, seeks to protect energy producers from such civil suits.
Number of the Day
$45.9 billion – Cumulative profits of Wall Street firms in the first six months of 2026 – a 51.3% increase over the same period in 2025. Wall Street is on track for a year of record profits. (Source: New York State Comptroller’s office via Axios)