The House and Senate remain adjourned for their five-week summer recess. Despite the lull in activity on Capitol Hill, last week saw several notable updates on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Last Tuesday, a government report found that the health law’s medical device tax is raising roughly three-quarters of the revenue originally expected. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) said the IRS needs to continue to tweak its compliance rules, identifying several mistakes that slowed collection of the controversial tax.
Month: August 2014
Whither CHIP?
This post, penned by Thorn Run Partner's Billy Wynne, originally appeared in the August 19 edition of Health Affairs.
In a day all but lost to Affordable Care Act prehistory, on November 7, 2009, the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Among the bill’s many differences with its Senate counterpart, it would have allowed the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to expire at the end of 2013, with children covered under that program enrolled in either Medicaid or commercial Exchange plans.
TRP Health Policy Report
The House and Senate remain adjourned for their five-week summer recess. When Congress returns in September, lawmakers plan to take up a series of issues, including a continuing resolution to fund the government past September 30, a border security bill, reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, extending the Internet Tax Freedom Act and consideration of a fiscal 2015 Defense Authorization bill. The Senate may also consider a constitutional amendment regarding campaign financing, legislation on the minimum wage, student loans and a bill to address the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby ruling. Senate leaders say the chamber will be in session straight through September 23rd, when members will adjourn again until after the November elections. The House is scheduled to be in session from September 8-19 and September 29-October 2.
TRP Clean Energy Report
The House and Senate have adjourned for a five-week summer recess. Before departing, the House on August 1 approved a border security bill (H.R. 5230) in 223-189 vote. House members also passed a second measure (H.R.5272) by 216-192 that would limit the President’s power to shield undocumented immigrants from deportations. Passage in the House came a day after Senate Republicans blocked consideration of an emergency spending bill (S. 2648) that would have provided $2.7 billion in federal aid to the agencies tasked with addressing the border crisis. Senators also approved veterans’ reform legislation (H.R. 3230) 91-3, sending the package to President Obama. The House passed the veterans’ bill on July 30 in a 420-5 vote. The Senate also voted 81-13 to approve an $11 billion highway funding bill (H.R. 5021). Earlier in the week, the House voted 225-201 to authorize a lawsuit against President Obama (H.Res. 676) for delaying the Affordable Care Act's employer mandate. In the House, members debate a series of suspension bills before taking up legislation (H.R. 4315) that would make changes to the Endangered Species Act.
TRP Health Policy Report
The House and Senate remain adjourned for a five-week summer recess. When Congress returns in September, lawmakers plan to take up a series of issues, including a continuing resolution to fund the government past September 30, a border security bill, reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, extending the Internet Tax Freedom Act and consideration of a fiscal 2015 Defense Authorization bill. The Senate may also consider a constitutional amendment regarding campaign financing, legislation on the minimum wage, student loans and a bill to address the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby ruling. Senate leaders say the chamber will be in session straight through September 23rd, when members will adjourn again until after the November elections. The House is scheduled to be in session from September 8-19 and September 29-October 2.
TRP Financial Services Report
Last week we learned that the economy added another 209,000 jobs, which was the six straight month with growth of at least 200,000 new jobs. Although the unemployment numbers ticked up slightly, the news followed on earlier positive reports that the economy grew by 4% in the second quarter. For Democrats, who are hoping that a positive economy will mute other political factors in the upcoming election, the news couldn’t have been better. Then on Thursday, Democrats were handed one last present, an unforced error by House Republicans who were forced to pull their border bill and replace it with another plan that has little chance of becoming law. If Democrats are going to be able to swim against the tide and hold the Senate in November, it will help if their opponents continue to demonstrate their difficulties in governing. At least the Senate blinked when it came to pragmatism over ideology on the highway funding patch, accepting the House version after the first example of a ping pong conference this year. Both sides now retreat to their respective corners for the next five weeks before coming back for around two weeks in September.
TRP Health Policy Report
Last week saw a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill as lawmakers looked to complete work on a series of legislative priorities before adjourning for the August recess. On Friday night, the House voted 223-189 to pass a $694 million bill (H.R.5230) to deal with the influx of migrants at the southern border, overcoming concerns from conservatives that had nearly derailed it a day earlier. Following passage of the border supplemental package, the House approved a second measure (H.R.5272) in a 216-192 vote that would limit President Obama's power to shield undocumented immigrants from deportations. Neither bill is likely to advance, given strong opposition by Senate Democrats and the White House.