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Congress returns this week as lawmakers resume border security Conference Committee negotiations. The odds of another funding lapse were raised after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) emphasized that the Democratic border security proposal will not include funding for President Trump’s border wall priority. If the Conference Committee is unable to produce a deal that appeases President Trump, the President has reiterated he […]

The Week in Review House and Senate lawmakers began border security negotiations last week in hopes of striking a border security compromise, yet a bipartisan agreement remains elusive. In addition to the debate over President Trump’s $5.7 billion border wall priority, lawmakers have been hamstrung over the possibility of adding deals on immigration policy and the debt limit to the underlying negotiations. If the negotiators fail to […]

Our Take For those working off their Big Game spiderwebs this morning, please appreciate that this is a relatively slow week.   The apex will likely come on Tuesday when the President delivers the State of the Union.   Beyond that there are a few hearings of note, including two on retirement security.   While infrastructure often is […]

The odds of another partial government shutdown were raised yesterday after Democrats unveiled their initial border security proposal. The plan — which does not include funding for President Trump’s border wall priority — would allocate new funding for: (1) modernizing Border Patrol technology and infrastructure; (2) hiring 1,000 customs officers; and (3) “humanitarian” needs such as […]

House and Senate lawmakers began negotiations yesterday in hopes of striking a border security compromise, yet a bipartisan agreement remains elusive. In addition to the debate over President Trump’s $5.7 billion border wall priority, lawmakers have been hamstrung over the possibility of adding deals on immigration policy and the debt limit to the underlying negotiations. […]

Both chambers of Congress are set to resume legislative business today following the contentious 35-day government shutdown. In the House, lawmakers will take up three suspension bills out of the Financial Services Committee: (1) a bill (H.R. 624) that would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to carry out a study of Rule 10b5–1 […]

The Week in Review The longest government shutdown in U.S. history finally came to an end after President Trump signed a short-term continuing resolution (CR) over the weekend. The measure — which does not include additional border wall funding — funds shuttered federal departments and agencies through Feb. 15, providing lawmakers with additional time to […]

Our Take While over, it is clear that the shutdown will be like a proverbial elephant in a room, and  the point of discussion for at least another week as Democrats hope to continue to use it as an example of the President's inability to govern.   This will transpire while all sides continue to negotiate […]

Senate leadership struck a deal yesterday to bring two government funding proposals to the floor for a vote in hopes of ending the 33-day shutdown. Under the terms of the agreement reached by Leaders Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senate will first vote on President Trump’s proposal (text; summary), which provides $5.7 billion […]

Congress will resume legislative business today after both chambers canceled their previously scheduled recess due to the ongoing government shutdown. Over the weekend, President Trump disclosed his latest offer to Democrats in hopes of striking a deal that ends the 32-day shutdown while also funding his border wall priority. In exchange for $5.7 billion in funding […]

The Week in Review House Democrats continued their push to reopen the government last week as the partial government shutdown entered its fourth week. The House took up a pair of continuing resolutions (CR) (H.J.Res.27; H.J.Res.28) last week that would temporarily reopen federal agencies without funding President Trump's border wall priority. The lower chamber also cleared […]

Our Take Yesterday our nation celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Day.   Among his popular quotes is that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”  As noted here there is a sense by some that this trajectory only occurs through the force of those seeking to bend it.   In thinking […]