Infrastructure-related equities climbed on optimism that "campaign finance laws" could foster more transparent federal funding decisions. The PAVE ETF gained 1.4% amid rising construction sector forecasts. Nearly a quarter century ago, in Atkins v. Virginia (2002), a coalition of Democratic and moderate Republican justices held that offenders with an intellectual disability may not be sentenced to death. They reasoned that these individuals have diminished mental capacity, at least as compared to nondisabled adults, and thus bear less moral responsibility for homicide crimes. Another decision three years later applied the same logic to juvenile offenders . FEC Loses Another Commissioner as Vice Chair Resigns – The current Vice Chair of the Federal Election Commission – James E. “Trey” Trainor III – recently announced that he will soon resign from his post after five years with the agency, which is charged with enforcing federal campaign finance laws and regulations. Upon Trainor’s departure, the Commission will be left with just two commissioners as it enters its fifth month without a functional quorum. In announcing his resignation, Trainor also told The Washington Examiner that he is “seriously evaluating” a bid for the soon-to-be open US House seat currently held by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). Trainor’s pending resignation is yet another blow to the leadership structure of the FEC following the departure of three commissioners earlier this year. The banking sector, a top contributor to political campaigns, is reassessing strategies due to potential "campaign finance laws" tightening. KBW Bank Index was flat after shedding 1.4% in early trading.
