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Month: March 2017

Health Policy Report

Posted on by Thornrun

The Week in Review

It was a monumental week in health policy as Republicans went to work advocating for their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), dubbed the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees held marathon markups for their respective portions of the bill last week over the objections of Democrats, who delayed the process as much as possible through parliamentary procedure. The details of the plan, the list of its supporters and detractors, and its path forward in both chambers is included in our roundup below. Expect the AHCA to control much of the legislative oxygen in the weeks to come.

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Financial Services Report

Posted on by Thornrun

Our Take
During the campaign, it was said by some that Donald Trump is the wrong answer to the right question.   Regardless, it was clear – both from the primaries and then in the general – that a big section of the American public was incredibly frustrated with the institutions of governments and were prepared to elect someone willing to be different.    
 
Last Tuesday, the President came to Capitol Hill and by many accounts gave the first “Presidential” speech of his tenure.   Depending on where you sit, this was either a necessary reset or an appropriate look forward.  Either way, the purpose was to refocus the political capital that the President needs to spend to accomplish the very lofty objectives he campaigned on.   However, by the end of the weekend it appears as if the White House is going to add another item to Congress’ already packed agenda.  

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Today on the Hill: Defense Approps and Labor Resolutions as Congress Awaits New ACA Repeal and Replace Draft

Posted on by Thornrun

The House only has a pro forma session scheduled today, but returns tomorrow to a defense appropriations bill (H.R. 1301) that would fund the Pentagon for the remainder of the fiscal 2017 year at $583.7 billion in annualized defense spending. The bill – which will likely be considered without amendments – is the result of negotiations dating to the last Congress. With an Apr. 28 funding deadline looming for the entire government, watch to see if Democrats attempt to hold up the defense bill in order to pressure Republicans to act on omnibus legislation that would fund the rest of the government. Republican leaders are currently crafting their spending strategy, which may include multiple “minibus” appropriations measures to fund the various agencies and departments that make up the federal government. Should that strategy fail, it remains possible that lawmakers will pass a final stopgap bill to maintain fiscal 2016 levels of spending for the remainder of the 2017 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

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Health Policy Report

Posted on by Thornrun

The Week in Review

The highlight of the week came on Tuesday when President Trump outlined his legislative agenda in his first remarks to a joint session of Congress. In a generally well-received speech, the President called for a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, paid family leave, and providing tax credits to help Americans purchase health insurance. Those policies have divided Republicans in the past, and it remains to be seen whether a presidential endorsement can help unwind the logjam on Capitol Hill.

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Today on the Hill: Carson Nom and Reg Bill on Chamber Floors; ACA Replacement, FY17 Defense Spending Plans Taking Shape

Posted on by Thornrun

More of the same is scheduled for the chamber floors in Congress today as the Senate moves to consider Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the House lines up the final regulation-related bill in a series considered this week. Carson, a former neurosurgeon and presidential candidate, was approved on a voice vote out of the Senate Banking Committee, meaning that he should face significantly less resistance than other controversial Cabinet choices on the Senate floor. Democrats, although wary of his lack of his experience in housing policy, were heartened by his prioritizing of affordable housing and civil rights related to housing. A final vote on his confirmation is expected this morning, followed by a cloture vote on Rick Perry’s nomination to lead the Department of Energy.

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