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Last week, Congress opened debate on an Iran nuclear deal, created a unified budget blueprint, passed two appropriations bills and introduced legislation to repeal the ‘Cadillac Tax.’ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has brought to the Senate floor an Iran nuclear bill for amendment consideration. Separately, the House passed a Republican Party budget blueprint […]

Looking Ahead Near Term: It’s “Insurance Week” in DC with three hearings, two in Senate Banking and one over in the House. Also, there will be a joint Financial Services – Government Reform subcommittee hearing on Ex-Im. The House will take up two Appropriations bills – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and also the Energy […]

Last week, Congress turned its attention to a series of lingering legislative issues. Republican Whip Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) reached a compromise regarding abortion language in a long-stalled human trafficking bill (S. 178), leading to its passage by a vote of 99-0. The legislation now moves to the House. The […]

The Book of Job tells us that the “Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh away.”  While far be it from us to compare the current occupant of the White House with Almighty, this past week offered a classic example of how the White House, and therefore to some extent the Democratic party, is trying to […]

After a two-week break, Congress returned to confront an expired deadline on Medicare payments to doctors and other unfinished business. On Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill (H.R. 2) to prevent a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments set to begin on April 1 and extended the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through 2017.  The […]

After seventeen years (eight months, 9 days…), over a dozen acts of Congress and enumerable reams of debate and conjecture about its fate, it’s time to say goodbye to the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. As a proper wake, let’s take a moment to reflect on this enigma of health care economic theory. And […]

Like all good things, this two week recess has come to an end.  Congress returns and with tax day cometh, the House is set to take up a series of financial services and tax bills.  In order to help you plan your week, we wanted to share a few of the key items on tap […]

After a two-week recess, Congress returns today to confront an expired deadline on Medicare payments to doctors and other unfinished business. The Senate is under pressure to act on a House-passed bill (H.R. 2) to stop a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments that kicked in April 1. Lawmakers have acted 17 times since 2003 […]

The House and Senate are in recess until April 13. When lawmakers return, the Senate is expected to vote on a Medicare deal (H.R.2) that passed the House on March 26. Additionally, both chambers are likely to begin the Fiscal 2016 annual appropriations process and try to beat a May 31 deadline to renew federal […]

As we close the books on one of the most productive weeks in Congress this year (and perhaps in recent memory), we can’t help but note that it occurred just before the convergence of the Easter and Passover holidays this year.  Perhaps it is just coincidence, but one can’t help but wonder if we should […]

Following one of the most productive weeks of the 114th Congress, lawmakers made their way home last Friday to begin a two-week recess. Before adjourning, House and Senate Republicans passed their preferred budget resolutions and the House voted overwhelming to permanently repeal Medicare’s flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. Early last Friday morning, the Senate […]

Looking Ahead   Near Term  An incredibly packed week as both the House and Senate try to wrap up this work period.  The House week will be highlighted by a vote on the so-called “Doc fix” while the Senate will subject itself to the drama that is the vote-a-rama. In the Committees, House Financial Services […]