In yesterday’s edition of POLITICO’s Transition Playbook — a leading news beat on the transfer of power in Washington, D.C. — TRP’s Andy Rosenberg prognosticated the next round of COVID-19 relief aid for what is soon to be a unified Democratic government. With the Democrats set to control the White House and both chambers of Congress following victories in the Georgia Senate runoff elections, Rosenberg explained that this sweeping change of leadership is an opportunity for the President-elect to clinch policy wins on his top “rescue and recovery” priorities. “The expectations and assumptions about what was possible a week ago are completely obsolete,” said Rosenberg.

In an article for CQ, TRP’s Jason Rosenstock offered commentary on the Senate Democrats’ Banking Committee agenda for the 117^th Congress. With Democrats in control, Rosenstock pointed out that the Biden administration will be able to staff up significantly quicker and with more liberal nominees compared to what was forecasted under a GOP-controlled Senate. Also on the agenda, he expects Senate Democrats to use the Congressional Review Act (PL 104-121) to rescind regulations finalized by the Trump administration in the last 60 legislative days. However, given the 50-50 margin in the upper chamber, Rosenstock aptly stated that centrist senators on the committee will affect the scope of Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown’s (D-OH) agenda, leading to smaller, more targeted proposals on the issues Chairman Brown cares about.

For Immediate Release: January 12, 2021

Contact: Andrew Rosenberg, (202) 247-6301, arosenberg@thornrun.com

Thorn Run Partners (TRP) (www.thornrun.com) announced today the elevation of Michelle Fried Galvanek to Partner in their Washington, DC office.  Most recently, Michelle served as Principal Policy Counsel at the firm.

For Immediate Release: January 4, 2021
Contact: Andrew Rosenberg, (202) 247-6301 (arosenberg@thornrun.com)

Thorn Run Partners (TRP) (www.thornrun.com) announced today the addition of B.G. Wright as Partner in their Washington, DC office. Most recently, B.G. was a professional staff member for the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. His oversight responsibilities included the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Space Council, providing generational impact to programs that will return humans to the Moon and beyond.

In an article for Modern Healthcare, TRP Senior Vice President Shea McCarthy offered commentary on President Donald Trump’s competing priorities on health costs and drug pricing as the outgoing administration looks to finalize its health care agenda. The article notes that the Department of Human and Health Services (HHS) has promulgated a rule that would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from collecting rebates from drug makers unless these rebates are distributed directly to patients. McCarthy aptly highlighted the administration’s challenge in advancing this regulation while meeting the goals of a Trump executive order in July saying that HHS must publicly certify that any new rebate policy will not increase insurance premiums. “Eliminating rebates without raising premiums presents the ultimate public policy paradox,” said McCarthy.

TRP’s Paul Bock was cited in a recent POLITICO article that discussed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s pledge to crack down on the “improper influence of lobbyists” should he defeat President Donald Trump in November. While the piece notes that Bock has previously argued against banning the participation of those “who might be able to help facilitate a more efficient transition,” he astutely points out that the Biden team must strike an effective balance between experience and public perception in the event there’s a change in power following the 2020 election. “I understood then — and understand now — that the added experience has to be weighed against the perception that the new Administration might be too close to the interests represented by lobbyists,” said Bock.

For immediate release: September 1, 2020

Contact: Andrew Rosenberg, (202) 247-6301

arosenberg@thornrun.com

Thorn Run Partners (TRP) (www.thornrun.com) announced today the addition of Paul Bock as Partner in their Washington, DC office.  After working at senior level positions for nearly two decades in the Senate, Mr. Bock has most recently been downtown, where he’s provided a broad range of clients with expertise and support at working with the Senate Democratic caucus.

In the lead story of today’s “Influence” newsletter — a leading government relations beat in Washington, D.C. — POLITICO broke the news on the addition of Paul Bock as TRP’s 15^th partner. A former Senate Chief of Staff, Bock joins TRP following stops at Capitol Hill Strategies and Holland & Knight where he helped clients achieve success in a wide range of policy areas. “Paul’s been a friend to many of us at the firm for years, and we’re confident that his reputation, relationships, and insights will add considerable value for our clients in a changing political environment,” said TRP’s Andy Rosenberg.

In an article for Inside Health Policy, TRP Senior Vice President Shea McCarthy shared his insight on the heated debate over the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) fiscal year (FY) 2021 physician fee schedule (PFS). With payment reductions of up to 11 percent imminent as a result of the proposed FY 2021 PFS, McCarthy pointed out that Congress may start to take the option of waiving the budget neutrality requirements underpinning the E/M pay bumps seriously. “Between reductions in patient volume and a hiatus on elective procedures, COVID-19 is already putting a massive strain on America’s healthcare system — and lawmakers are increasingly recognizing that many providers will struggle to keep their doors open if these drastic cuts are implemented,” said McCarthy.  

In today’s Washington Post “The Finance 202” newsletter — a top financial services beat in Washington, D.C. — TRP’s Jason Rosenstock offered his commentary on the shifting political dynamics within the Democratic party, as well as the impact this could have on the financial services industry moving forward. Following progressive activist Cori Bush’s defeat of 10-term Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), a member of the House financial Services Committee, Rosenstock points out that stakeholders are working to game out both the implications of different election outcomes as well as the effect that the “newly assertive left” could have on the overall direction of the Democrats’ policy priorities. “The financial services industry is perpetually going to be attacked by the far left,” said Rosenstock. “The question is, ‘How far does that bleed into the general ethos of the Democratic Party?’”