The Top 5 Stories in Washington DC, Dec 19th

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      The Senate passed the bipartisan budget agreement on a 64-36 vote with nine Republicans joining Democrats in support of the bill.

Look ahead: Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski; her House counterpart, Rep. Harold Rogers; and their subcommittee chairs have already begun discussions and will be working through the holidays to craft a 12-bill omnibus package Congress will address when lawmakers return in January.

2.      The Senate voted 71-29 to invoke cloture on the National Defense Authorization Act, placing the measure on track for a vote.

Look ahead: The measure is expected to pass the Senate and head to President Obama for signature.

3.      US District Judge Richard Leon, a veteran of controversial cases involving the government, ruled this week the National Security Agency's compiling of Americans' phone records is likely unconstitutional.

Look ahead: Leon stayed his own opinion to allow the administration to appeal.

4.      President Obama plans to nominate Senator Max Baucus, who is retiring next year after six terms in the Senate, to serve as U.S. ambassador to China.

Look ahead: Baucus appears to have a clear path to confirmation, and his departure could trigger a domino effect on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

5.      Reps. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, Frank Wolf, R-Va., and Tom Latham, R-Iowa, all announced plans to retire following the 113th Congress.

Look ahead: The trio of retirements could present pickup opportunities for the opposing parties.

This Week In Washington, Dec 12th

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories This Week

1.      The budget agreement reached by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray includes a $63B spending increase for 2014 and 2015, but offsets these gains with $85B in deficit reductions over the next decade, a move that could make it palatable to conservatives.

Look ahead: The House is expected to pass the deal, and Senate Republicans say it is likely to pass the upper chamber, as well.

2.      Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees announced a compromise bill that includes some changes to the handling of sexual assault, but falls short of the amendment offered by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Look ahead: The House could vote as early as Thursday on the bill, but it could instead occur Friday.

3.      The Senate confirmed Patricia Millett to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and later confirmed Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The body confirmed Cornelia Pillard for the D.C. Circuit early Thursday morning.

Look ahead: Majority Leader Harry Reid, threatened to hold the Senate through the weekend to confirm the remaining presidential nominees.

4.      The Federal Reserve, SEC, FDIC, CFTC, and OCC adopted the Volcker Rule, a critical provision of the Dodd-Frank financial-reform law that aims to seeks to reduce risk-taking among banks.

Look ahead: Banks have until July 21, 2015 to come into compliance with its regulations.

5.      House and Senate negotiators conceded a final farm bill will not be ready this year, but expressed optimism agreement could be reached next month.

Look ahead: House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas filed a short-term extension of the legislation through the end of January.

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THE MEYERS GROUP ANNOUNCES NEWEST PRINCIPAL

Healthcare Practice Continues to Grow

Washington, DC - George Meyers, founder and managing partner of the Meyers Group, announced today that the firm has added John Mize to its team of principles. Mr. Mize will work with clients to develop and execute their business strategy relating to the federal healthcare sector.

 “John’s decade of business development experience in the healthcare sector will be a true value to our clients,” Mr. Meyers said. “He has significantly increased the revenue of every company he has worked for, which I saw firsthand while working with John at Cassidy & Associates.  As we enter into a new healthcare era with the passage and enactment of the Affordable Care Act, our clients can be confident that their federal business will continue to thrive and grow.”

Mr. Mize has experience in comprehensive biological sample management and has led teams developing federal divisions for two healthcare providers.  He helped a client create their Federal division that grew from approximately $400,000 in annual sales to over $6 million within three years.  

Mr. Mize’s career has led him both inside and outside of the Washington beltway – giving him a unique perspective of the industry.  His experiences includes working as the business development manager at biotech firms like BioStorage Technologies Inc., and Healthsense Incorporated in the mid-west, as well as NovaSom Incporporated and Cassidy & Associates, in the Washington, D.C. area.

Mr. Mize is a graduate of the University of Oregon. As a parent of a daughter with autism spectrum, he is very active in the Autism community.

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PRESS CONTACT: KAITLIN BULAVINETZ

kbulavinetz@gmeyers.com 

410.802.5030