Sarah Koshy

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act seeks to restore and modernize the core protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act by reinstating federal preclearance for jurisdictions with recent histories of voting discrimination. By updating coverage formulas, strengthening safeguards against vote dilution and denial, and using retrogression as a standard, the bill aims to prevent discriminatory laws before they take effect. It responds directly to the harmful impacts of the Shelby County v. Holder decision, which triggered widespread poll closures, voter purges, and restrictive ID laws. While the bill offers strong oversight and transparency mechanisms, its effectiveness depends on adequate resources for enforcement and careful management of federal authority.

The Overtime Pay Tax Relief Act seeks to make overtime compensation tax-deductible for workers, allowing up to 20% of eligible overtime earnings to be excluded from taxable income and phasing out benefits at higher income levels. By increasing take-home pay and incentivizing additional hours, the bill aims to support workers during ongoing labor shortages and stimulate bottom-up economic growth. However, the legislation introduces concerns about federal revenue loss, tax-code complexity, and potential inequities between workers with similar annual earnings but different wage structures. To strengthen equity and sustainability, the article recommends adopting a graduated deduction and implementing safeguards to prevent wage distortion and misclassification.