In CNBC, TRP’s Sola Discusses Impact of Trump Energy Export Deals on Maritime

Our Take Many believe that the overarching theme of Congress 2019 will be one of gridlock, with little legislative action expected to ultimately end up on the President’s desk – save perhaps an infrastructure and data privacy legislation.   And to the casual observer, that may ultimately appear to be correct, but beneath the surface Democrats […]

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) struck a deal with a group of insurgent Democratic lawmakers that will likely ensure she’ll have the votes she needs to claim the speaker’s gavel in the 116th Congress. The agreement would limit her tenure and that of Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn (D-SC) to no more […]

The federal government inched closer to a partial government shutdown yesterday following a fervid oval office meeting between President Trump and Democratic leadership. President Trump told House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that he would be “proud” to shut down the government if the spending deal does not […]

House and Senate Agriculture negotiators have released the text (summary) for the final version of the Farm Bill, putting lawmakers on track to pass the five-year legislation this week. The legislation omits conservative-backed work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients — a move that will likely increase support among Democrats in both chambers. Despite President […]

Following an emotional week of remembrance for the late former President George H.W. Bush, Congress is poised to resume talks on a deal to fund the rest of the government. The contentious debate over President Trump’s border wall demands has deadlocked the final stretch of the FY2019 appropriations process, leaving seven funding bills in limbo. […]

The Week in Review Congress’ schedule was upended last week following the death of former President George H.W. Bush. President Trump declared last Wednesday a national day of mourning in honor of the state funeral for the nation’s 41st president, prompting lawmakers to strike a deal to postpone the government funding deadline until December 21. House […]

Our Take Over the next two weeks Congress and the President need to reach an agreement on the remaining spending bills in order to avoid a partial shutdown.   As that debate is keeping Congress open (when frankly, everyone in town would prefer that they were done for the year) and therefore providing an opening for […]

Congressional lawmakers are expected to clear the two-week funding bill by unanimous consent today, putting the bill on President Trump’s desk prior to Friday’s government funding deadline. Funding for parts of the federal government is currently set to expire tomorrow at midnight, but Congress is deadlocked over Trump’s demand for $5 billion in funding for a […]

Congressional appropriators have released a two-week funding bill that would delay a partial government shutdown until Friday, December 21. The bill includes a clean extension for outstanding government funding, as well as an additional extension for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) which was also set to expire this Friday. Leaders from both parties — […]

Our Take Earlier this week, while defending Leader Pelosi’s effort to put down a rebellion of members who believe that she has been Leader long enough, the folks at Pod Save America painted a broad brush against all moderates – and in the process conflating the problem solvers caucus with the New Dems – by […]

Congressional negotiators and White House officials are discussing a short-term funding bill budget bill that would delay a partial government shutdown while Washington prepares for the state funeral of former President George H.W. Bush. Among the details still being ironed out is whether the short-term extension would push the funding deadline by one or two […]

The Week in Review Congressional lawmakers returned to Washington after a brief Thanksgiving recess. During the week, Congress made progress toward reauthorization of a series of key programs including the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Farm Bill. Regarding the NFIP, President Trump signed a short-term funding bill that extends the program until December 7, giving Congress more time to […]