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.
Author: Thornrun
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.
CMS Says Year-2 Open Enrollment May Have ‘Bumps’
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) could take significant steps to improve the contract planning and oversight practices that led to the failed launch of Healthcare.gov last October, an official from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) testified today at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Oversight Subcommittee. CMS was aware up to six months before the launch of HealthCare.gov that the portal for the Federally Facilitated Marketplaces (FFM) would not be ready for the July 2013 launch, according to the newly released GAO report, including estimates in the spring of 2013 that only 65 percent of the website would be ready for the October 1 launch.
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TRP Health Policy Report
Both chambers of Congress were in session last week, as lawmakers looked to complete work on several legislative priorities before the upcoming August recess. Last Friday, the House voted 237-173 to pass legislation (H.R. 4935) to overhaul the child tax credit by requiring applicants to provide their Social Security numbers. Separately, the House voted 370-40 to approve a resolution (H.Con.Res.105) requiring Congressional authorization for a sustained presence of combat troops in Iraq.
TRP Financial Services Report
Congress limps into the last week of July looking to notch some legislative victories in what has been an otherwise uneventful year. With only two weeks of session remaining when they return, this last week in July may be the best bet for both chambers to deal with pressing items, such as the highway trust fund, a solution for the VA issue, and potentially even the border crisis. While some media outlets are taking a lighter view of this “do nothing Congress”, this past weekend, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton took aim at both sides for retreating to their entrenched positions. With so much to do in the lame duck, there is a growing sense that others share in Ms. Clinton’s sentiment and we may see some serious deal making in November – unless the Senate flips, then all bets are off.
Who is projected to have a good year? Politico says Thorn Run Partners
Today, Politico Influence, the beltway's guide to inside lobbying, crunched the second quarter Lobbying Disclosure Act numbers and Thorn Run was at the top of their list. Compared to 2013 figures, TRP is on track to increase earnings by more than 21 percent, and is growing faster than any of the 22 other firms according to their estimates. While by no means an official score card, PI's note of enthusiasm is welcome.
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Senate Subcommittee: Stable Funding for Transit Projects, Key to Economically Resilient Communities
Today, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs’ subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development met to conduct a hearing entitled, “Building Economically Resilient Communities: Local and Regional Approaches.” Witnesses discussed the economic growth that their communities have experienced with investments in public transportation and how their experiences could help others. Subcommittee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ) stated that he would be reintroducing his 2011 bill, the Livable Communities Act, following the hearing.
TRP Health Policy Report
Healthcare remained a dominant topic on Capitol Hill last week, punctuated by a bitter debate in the Senate over the Supreme Court’s recentHobby Lobby ruling. On Wednesday, lawmakers failed to advance a bill (S. 2578) that would require companies to provide contraceptive coverage in their employee healthcare plans. The Senate voted 56-43 against invoking cloture on the legislation, falling short of the 60 votes needed to move the bill forward. Senate Democrats introduced the bill to reverse the effects of last month’s Supreme Court ruling, which found that the government could not mandate that certain employers provide birth control coverage if it conflicts with their religious beliefs.
TRP Financial Services Report
Today marks the 4th anniversary of the signing of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. While last week saw the usual suspects hold the type of “look back” analysis one would expect on such occasion, Better Markets marked the occasion by highlighting how the public still doesn’t trust “big banks,” believes the markets are rigged, and favors stricter regulations. Interestingly, these polling results dovetailed with comments Senator Dodd made at a Bipartisan Policy Center event, where he noted a growing convergence by the far left and the far right against large companies in the financial services space.
Senators Focus on Coordinated Care in Battle Against Chronic Illness
Medicare still has significant room for improvement in incentivizing care coordination for individuals with multiple chronic conditions, lawmakers concluded at a Senate Finance Committee hearing today. In a hearing focused on the challenges of treating patients with chronic conditions, Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced that the Finance Committee will begin a months-long effort “to find bipartisan solutions to meet the challenges of chronic disease.” Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), ranking member on the Committee, added that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) “has long said that fee-for-service Medicare creates silos – incentivizing providers to deliver more care, not necessarily higher quality, coordinated care.” And after hearing testimony from patients, caregivers, providers, and health plans, senators responded in a bipartisan chorus that improved care coordination is the Holy Grail in improving outcomes for patients suffering from chronic illness.
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