Health Policy Report (2/13)

Republicans took charge of both the House and Senate last week for the first time in eight years. Last November’s sweeping victories powered the GOP to full control, as the 114th Congress convened on Tuesday. Vice President Biden gaveled in a new Senate, with 54 Republicans to 44 Democrats, two independents and a new majority […]

This post, penned by Thorn Run's Billy Wynne, originally appeared on the Health Affairs Blog.   In a recent Health Affairs Blog post, I explored the types of changes that might be made to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) if and when Congress decides to revisit the law in a bipartisan manner. While that day is likely […]

The 114th Congress convenes tomorrow and GOP leaders are preparing their to-do list for 2015, when they will control both the House and Senate. Republicans will hold 247 of the 435 House seats, the biggest GOP bloc in 84 years. In the Senate, the party will have 54 of the chamber’s 100 seats. The new […]

Last Tuesday, the Senate adjourned for the year, approving an omnibus spending bill, dozens of judges, many executive branch nominees and a tax ‘extenders’ bill during the post-election lame duck session. Senators left town, however, without approving terrorism risk insurance legislation (S.2244), electing to put off a vote until 2015. The Senate also voted 76-16 […]

In a rare weekend session, the Senate on Saturday night passed a $1.1 trillion government spending bill 56-40, sending it to the President Obama for his signature. The measure (H.R. 83) includes 11 appropriations bills that fund most of the government through September 30 and a continuing resolution (CR) funding the Department of Homeland Security […]

Last Thursday, the House voted to bar the executive branch from deferring the deportation of undocumented workers, taking its first direct action against President Obama’s executive actions on immigration. The 219-197 vote was largely symbolic, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has said he won't take up the bill (H.R. 5759) and the White […]

Today, at a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing, bipartisan support emerged for an extension of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding beyond Sept. 30, 2015, while members examined policy issues that could be addressed in any funding measure.  While Democrats were especially eager to express their support for a funding extension, pointing […]

The House and Senate were in recess last week for the Thanksgiving holiday. During an otherwise quiet week, last Friday saw Senate Democrats increase their leadership ranks to include Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), who will serve as a policy development adviser to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Warner said he will use his new […]

Last week saw the Keystone XL oil pipeline and President Obama’s executive action on immigration take center stage in Washington. The Senate on Tuesday narrowly defeated legislation (S. 2280) that would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline, delivering a political setback to Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) in her Dec. 6 runoff race against challenger Rep. […]

After nearly two months on the campaign trail, Congress returned last week for new member orientation, leadership elections and the start of the lame-duck legislative session. The leadership elections offered few surprises, as Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Harry Reid (D-NV), and Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) all received their caucus’s endorsement to lead their respective parties […]

Riding a surge of voter discontent, Republicans seized control of Congress in last Tuesday’s midterm elections, a result that transforms the political dynamic in Washington and gives the GOP new power over President Obama’s final two years in the White House. Republicans gained at least seven Senate seats to assemble a majority of at least […]

The House and Senate are out until November 12, as both chambers have been adjourned for several weeks ahead of tomorrow’s midterm elections. When legislators return to Washington, the House and Senate are expected to be in session for two weeks before breaking for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lawmakers will return in December, when work will […]