The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Howard Lutnick as secretary of commerce on Feb. 18, 2025. The Senate voted 51-45 in favor of his nomination along party lines. This was the 17th member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term. Trump announced on Nov. 19, 2024, that he had selected…
Highlights from this edition of Checks and Balances include Trump’s first noteworthy executive orders on the administrative state and states modeling the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In Washington Bills limiting the administrative state reintroduced in 119th Congress What’s the story? Republicans introduced several bills in January and early February that would limit the…
The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…
The Virginia State Legislature gave final approval to three constitutional amendments, advancing them for approval by the legislature during its 2026 session. If the amendments are approved by the legislature in 2026, they will appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot. In Virginia, for a constitutional amendment to qualify for the ballot, it must pass the…
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed the Education Freedom Act of 2025 (EFA) into law on Feb. 12, 2025. The bill — House Bill 6004 — creates a universal private school student scholarship program under which all students are or will be eligible to receive the scholarship. Going into 2025, Tennessee had two existing education…