Email from Vote Smart D.C. Mayor Bowser Weighs in on Federal Law Enforcement - Find out More!   Thank you to everyone who helped name our new civic education chatbot! We had a TREMENDOUS turnout, and with 28.5% of the vote the winner is Civic Sage 🎉. Your input will guide its development and help ensure it answers what matters most to you. Your question can be short, long, or anywhere in between — we just want to hear from you! Please share your queries using this quick form. As we move forward with development ahead of the Virginia and New Jersey elections this November, your voice will help us ensure Civic Sage becomes a powerful tool for civic learning and voter empowerment. Thank you for being part of this journey with us — your voice truly makes a difference! President Trump Issues Executive Order Targeting Flag Desecration President Trump signed an executive order directing federal prosecutors to pursue criminal charges for flag desecration, such as burning, with penalties up to one year in jail. The order challenges legal precedent established in Texas v. Johnson (1989), which protects flag-burning as free speech.  Source 1: Reuters, Source 2: Newsmax, Source 3: The White House   Minneapolis School Shooting Sparks National Debate on Gun Safety and Community Resilience An individual, identified as Robin Westman, open fired during a morning Mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, killing two young children (ages 8 and 10) and wounding around 17 others, including students and parishioners. The FBI is investigating the incident as a domestic terrorism and hate crime, prompting renewed national reflection on gun safety, mental health, and the protection of children in houses of worship.  Source 1: CNN, Source 2: Fox News   D.C. Mayor Balances Praise and Concern Over Federal Law Enforcement Expansion Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed “great appreciation” for the crime reduction achieved by federal law enforcement deployments, yet warned of a “break in trust” amid concerns about overreach. The federal role expanded notably with the Department of Transportation assuming control of Union Station from Amtrak to enhance security and aesthetics.  Source 1: NBC News, Source 2: New York Post     We’re excited to introduce a new feature in your weekly digest — interactive visualizations of key votes. These tools let you explore live breakdowns of important votes by state, region, and issue area, giving you a clearer picture of how lawmakers are deciding on the issues that matter most. Northeast Midwest South West For full details on each bill, visit our Vote Smart Issue Positions page. Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes: The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue. The vote should be clear for any person to understand. The vote has received media attention. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin.   Congress State California (CA) – House Passed AB 49 – Prohibits School Officials From Allowing an Immigration Authority Onto a Nonpublic School Site Without a Warrant or Court Order California (CA) – Senate Passed SB 323 – Requires an Amendment to the California Dream Act Application That Clarifies That it May Be Used by Any Student Eligible for State Financial Aid Programs South Dakota (SD) – Governor Larry Rhoden Signed HB 1239 – Repeals an Exemption Shielding Libraries, Schools, Universities, Museums and Their Employees from Prosecution State Oklahoma (OK) – Governor Kevin Stitt Signed HB 1087 – Extends the Teacher Salary Schedule Increases by 10 Years Oklahoma (OK) – Governor Kevin Stitt Signed SB 418 - Requires Certain Bathroom Gender Designations in Prisons and the Department of Corrections Texas (TX) – House Passed HB 22 – Authorizes the State Comptroller to Provide Funds to Local Governments for Emergency Communication Equipment       Democrat Catelin Drey won a special election for Iowa’s 1st State Senate district. This district, which includes Sioux City and parts of western Iowa, was vacated in June when Rocky DeWitt died of pancreatic cancer. Drey flipped the seat, defeating Chris Prosch and breaking Republican’s supermajority in the State Senate. Democrats will now hold 17 seats out of 50. Republican Natasha Johnson won a special election for California’s 63rd State Assembly district. This district, which is located in the Inland Empire and centered around the city of Corona, was vacated when Bill Essayli resigned to be a United States Attorney. Johnson, a member of the Lake Elsinore City Council, won the seat over Democrat Chris Shoults. Republicans remain in a superminority in the Assembly, holding 20 seats to the Democrat’s 60. Next week, there are a pair of special elections in Florida. Click on the links below to view the results:  Florida Special State Legislative General Election, House District 40 and Senate District 15     Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Vote Smart | 1153 24TH ST | DES MOINES, IA 50311-4308 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice