Outside of the Presidential Elections this week, lots happened at the State level.

Here are some Election takeaways you may have missed:

- California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, legalized recreational marijuana.

- Nevada elected Catherine Cortez Masto, the first Latina elected to the Senate.

- Washington voters rejected an initiative to impose first Carbon Tax in the Country.

- Ilhan Omar came to America as a refugee. This week she was elected to the Minnesota House, becoming America's first Somali-American lawmaker.

- Voters in California, Nebraska, and Oklahoma voted to keep the death penalty.

- Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and Washington, voted to increase the minimum wage.

- California elected its first African-American Senator, Kamala Harris. She will be the second black woman and the first Indian-American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

One thing voters across the Country seemed to agree on this Election? Improving America's infrastructure. President-elect Donald Trump has proposed nearly $1 trillion in new infrastructure investments, and this week Congressional Republicans and Democrats agreed to work on the issue together in the 115th Congress. So what all does "infrastructure" entail? Well it's a lot of things: highways and transport to water systems and airports, the electric grid and broadband, rail and bridges.

Congress will soon resume work on this year's annual defense bill. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sets the budget and expenditure for the Department of Defense each year. Coupled with defense appropriations bills, it is how Congress oversees the defense budget. A provision in the House version to prohibit discrimination by Federal contractors has proven controversial.

House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady said he plans to move forward with major tax-overhaul Legislation in the first 100 days of Trump administration.

Federal Court ruled in favor of the Department of Labor's Fiduciary rule. Decision is the first of six lawsuits brought by firms and trade groups looking to block the rule before its April implementation deadline.

First matter of business for the Senate upon return? Take up House-passed Smith bill to amend Veterans Oral History Project Act to allow Gold Star families to provide biographical histories of veterans.

Will the IT Modernization bill come to light?

China passed a controversial cybersecurity law that requires data collected in China be stored on servers in China and forces users to register their real names when using messaging services.

U.S.-backed Kurdish and Arab forces in Syria began long-anticipated offensive to seize ISIS stronghold Raqqa.

Environmental Protection Agency sent a final rule to Office of Management and Budget on an optional Cap-and-Trade system that States could use to comply with the Clean Power Plan, despite the plan being stayed by the Supreme Court.

Federal Appeals Court scheduled February session to hear oral arguments in challenge to the Obama Administration's rule on Ozone Pollution.

Ireland plans to appeal the European Commission's demand for $14.5 billion in back taxes from Apple.

John Kerry set a new record, becoming the first Secretary of State to visit all Seven Continents.

Iran set to sign $6 billion deal with France-based Total SA to develop oil field in the Persian Gulf. Deal would be first Western investment in Iran's Oil and Gas industry since sanctions were eased at the start of the year.

Russian officials confirmed they did speak with Trump's Campaign team throughout the Election, despite previous denials from the Campaign.

Areas where Congressional Republicans and POTUS-Elect Trumpmay disagree? Congressional Term limits, Border Wall, and NATO.











NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker