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Month: December 2019

Health Policy Report (12/16)

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The Week in Review

Last week, Congressional Appropriations “Cardinals” announced an agreement in principle on $1.37 trillion in government funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The tentative agreement — which was struck hours after a meeting between Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) — signals an end to months of tense negotiations that primarily revolved around border wall funding, Title X family planning grants, gun control, and hundreds of additional “poison pill” issues that stymied the process. Although details are still being negotiated, there are indications that the year-end spending package could include some major health policy related surprises, such as repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s “Cadillac Tax” and medical device tax.

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Financial Services Report (12/16)

Posted on by Thornrun
If all goes according to plan – and with this Congress that is far from certain – the House will pass its funding measures on Tuesday, impeach the President on Wednesday and then pass the USMCA on Thursday before heading home for a two week break. The Senate will pass the spending bill on Thursday or Friday and then also leave town. Rumored to be included in these end of year spending bills are: SECURE Act, TRIA extension, and Ex-Im re-authorization, a short term flood extension, and some tax provisions (maybe). The caveat of course is the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, who might not be willing to sign the two appropriations bills into law due to perceived inadequacies for wall funding. If that were to happen the best bet is that Congress would pass a short term CR – but there is a chance, albeit a small one, that the President wouldn't sign that either and the government could — once again – shut down during Christmas.

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Next Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Conclude 2019 With Big-Ticket Priorities

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Congress will return to action next week to close out 2019 with votes on key legislative priorities. After Appropriations “Cardinals” reached an agreement in principle on government funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020, House and Senate lawmakers will look to pass a series of “minibus” spending packages for each of the 12 bills ahead of next Friday’s deadline. While GOP leadership expressed optimism about the prospects of support from President Donald Trump, it ultimately remains to be seen whether the President will sign off on the measures if his border-related priorities are not met.

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Veteran Defense Lobbyist Greg Lankler Joins Thorn Run Partners

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As the firm’s 14th partner, Lankler brings defense policy and appropriations expertise, as well as a wealth of strong bipartisan relationships on Capitol Hill.

For immediate release: December 9, 2019

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

Thorn Run Partners (TRP) (www.thornrun.com) announced today the addition of Greg Lankler as Partner in their Washington, DC office, where he will lead the firm’s national security and intelligence community practice.  After spending more than 20 years working in the U.S. House of Representatives and liaising with nearly every department of the federal government, Mr. Lankler has dedicated most of the last decade to helping large and small defense contractors, startups, Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, and other stakeholders navigate the congressional appropriations process.

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Today on the Hill: Democrats Look to Clinch Drug Pricing Reform Package

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House lawmakers have reconvened and are resuming consideration of the House Democrats’ signature drug pricing bill. The measure would: (1) permit negotiations on insulins and up to 250 other drugs annually, with prices backstopped at 120 percent of the average of prices in a basket of select wealthy countries and severe penalties for nonparticipation in negotiations; (2) place caps on prescription drugs’ annual price growth; and (3) restructure the Medicare Part D benefit. Lawmakers are currently considering 12 amendments to the underlying package, including a substitute amendment offered by Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) that Republicans argue reflects areas of bipartisan agreement on drug pricing reform.

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The Hill: Lamond, Rosenberg Listed as Top Lobbyists for 2019

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For the second year in a row, TRP founding partners Chris Lamond and Andy Rosenberg were selected for The Hill’s list of Top Lobbyists for 2019. As the authors astutely point out, 2019 saw a number of  high-profile fights on key legislative and regulatory issues, noting that this select group of individuals have demonstrated their ability to wield clout and knowledge most effectively in a difficult landscape. This highly-respected list represents an elite group of policy experts and influencers who stand out for delivering results to their clients here in Washington, DC. “…The people below are all at the top of their game — and the ones the nation’s biggest companies, labor unions and associations turn to when they want their voices heard in the nation’s capital.”

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Today on the Hill: Lawmakers Strike Deal on USMCA

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Congressional lawmakers have announced a deal that would bring highly anticipated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the floor for consideration. Democratic leadership has been pushing for changes to the renegotiated trade agreement — particularly around the drug patent, labor, environment, and enforcement provisions — and is expected to call up implementing legislation for a vote on the floor as soon as next week. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland reportedly will be in Mexico today to finalize details. 

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This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Jam on Key Legislative Priorities ​

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Congress returns to a jam-packed week as lawmakers look to clinch key legislative priorities. In addition to a vote on the House Democrats’ drug pricing package, the lower chamber is set to consider the conference report for the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after defense negotiators struck an agreement over the weekend. Additionally, House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) indicated that the House could begin taking up government funding bills as soon as this week if an agreement is reached.

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This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Jam on Key Legislative Priorities ​

Posted on by Thornrun

Congress returns to a jam-packed week as lawmakers look to clinch key legislative priorities. In addition to a vote on the House Democrats’ drug pricing package, the lower chamber is set to consider the conference report for the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) after defense negotiators struck an agreement over the weekend. Additionally, House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) indicated that the House could begin taking up government funding bills as soon as this week if an agreement is reached.

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Health Policy Report (12/9)

Posted on by Thornrun

The Week in Review

Government funding negotiations for fiscal year (FY) 2020 continued into this past weekend with fewer than two weeks left to iron out a compromise. While appropriations “Cardinals” expressed cautious optimism about the current state of government funding talks, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated last week that lawmakers will need to pass another stopgap funding measure that will fund the government “just after Christmas” if an agreement isn’t reached within the next few days. Key issues that remain unresolved include Title X family planning grants, homelessness assistance grants, gun violence research, and border wall funding.

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