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Author: Thornrun

Health Policy Report

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White House: Trump Will Announce IPI Model in September

President Trump is expected give a major health policy speech in September, including a roll-out of an international reference price system for prescription drugs. As reported last week in Bloomberg News, the President’s senior adviser, Kellyanne Conway, said that an international pricing index (IPI) for purchasing certain drugs under Medicare would be in the President’s plan, although she gave no indication if the plan would resemble one outlined in an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) from October 2018 that targeted Part B drugs or if it would be more expansive. The plan will reportedly be unveiled alongside a number of other health care-related proposals, though few specifics are available. According to Conway, Congressional Republicans have been briefed on the President’s plans.

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Health Policy Report

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The Week in Review

Senators reconvened last week to address key legislative priorities ahead of the August recess.  In addition to a host of presidential nominations, the Senate addressed budgetary spending caps and the federal debt ceiling by clearing the House-passed budget agreement. The deal — which approves $321 billion in new spending and suspends the debt ceiling for two years — was swiftly enacted into law by President Donald Trump late last week.

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Financial Services Report (8/5)

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Both the House and Senate are in the August Recess and will return on September 9th. When the Senate returns in September it will continue approving executive nominations, including those of Kelly Craft to be UN Ambassador and Michelle Bowman to the Fed Board.
 
The House Financial Services Committee will also have a full September agenda.

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Today on the Hill: Budget Deal Fast-tracked As Senate Eyes Recess

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Senators may look to wrap up legislative business for the summer later this afternoon. In addition to a host of presidential nominations, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has queued up the bipartisan budget agreement for a vote at some point during today’s session. Final passage of the measure — which would boost spending by $321 billion over the next two years while also suspending the debt ceiling — could be closer than expected, as some GOP Senators have expressed uneasiness with the plan to increase spending. However, leadership expressed confidence that the bill would pass the chamber and be swiftly signed by President Donald Trump.

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This Week on the Hill: Senate Closes Out Summer Legislative Session

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Senators will reconvene this afternoon as they look to wrap up key legislative priorities ahead of the August recess. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is expected to swiftly call up the House-passed budget deal (text; summary), as the upper chamber will need to hit the ground running in September on the 2020 appropriations process. In addition to a vote on the budget deal, Senators are expected to consider a significant number of presidential nominees prior to adjourning. A full list of nominations up for consideration this week can be accessed here.

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Health Policy Report

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The Week in Review

House lawmakers cleared (284-149) the sweeping budget package (text; summary) last week, addressing key fiscal deadlines prior to leaving for the six-week August recess. Struck by top negotiators early last week, the deal provides for a $321 billion boost in federal spending over the next two years, while also suspending the debt ceiling for two years. The bill is expected to pass the Senate this week and be signed by President Donald Trump despite opposition from some Congressional conservatives.

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Financial Services Report 7/29

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In this age of twitter, where everyone can be a pundit, yelling into that that ever-growing social media echo chamber it is important to remember that if politics is passion, then governing is math.  And the math still matters.  So while the media continues its codependent cycle with the President or jumping from hot take to hot take among members of Congress, to really understand Congress, and to maintain the appropriate contextual framework it becomes increasingly important to focus on the individual trees and not the forest.
 
As we turn to the August recess, and the inevitable drumbeat by lazy reporters about impeachment, remember that it isn’t the passion, but the raw numbers that matter. Right now, less than half of the Democratic Caucus (and one independent) support starting impeachment proceedings. Until those numbers get considerable higher, those who dream of impeaching this President will have to keep dreaming.  

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Next Week on the Hill: Senate Closes Out July With Budget Deal, Nominations

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House lawmakers cleared (284-149) the sweeping budget package (text; summary) yesterday, addressing both the federal borrowing limit and budgetary spending caps prior to leaving for the six-week August recess. The Senate is scheduled to follow suit early next week, as the upper chamber will need to hit the ground running in September on the 2020 appropriations process. In addition to a vote on the budget deal, Senators are expected to consider a significant amount of presidential nominees. A full list of nominations up for consideration next week can be accessed here. 

Today on the Hill: Budget Deal, Drug Pricing Markup Headline Significant Activity on Capitol Hill

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Lawmakers are set to strap in for another busy day of legislative business both on and off the floor. In the lower chamber, House lawmakers are expected to pass the compromise budget deal (text; summary) later today, addressing key fiscal deadlines ahead of the six-week August recess. The deal provides for a $321 billion boost in federal spending over the next two years, while also suspending the debt ceiling for two years. The Senate is expected to swiftly take up the bipartisan spending agreement next week prior to the upper chamber’s adjournment.

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Today on the Hill: Leaders Strike Bipartisan Budget Deal

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Congressional leaders and President Donald Trump have struck a compromise budget deal (text; summary) that would address pressing deadlines for the federal debt ceiling and budgetary spending caps. The deal provides for a $321 billion boost in federal spending over the next two years, with $738 billion for defense spending and $632 billion for non-defense in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and $740.5 billion for defense and $634.5 billion for non-defense in FY 2021. By waiving the spending caps for FY 2020 and 2021, the agreement essentially marks the end of the 2011 Budget Control Act which is set to expire at the end of 2021. 

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