This Week in Washington DC, April 26, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      President Obama signed a bipartisan bill which reforms Medicare’s payment structures and reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

2.      The Senate Finance Committee came to an agreement on a bill that would give President Obama Trade Promotion Authority to negotiate trade agreements abroad.

3.      The Senate, after coming to a bipartisan agreement on a human trafficking bill, confirmed Loretta Lynch to be the first African-American woman Attorney General.

4.      For the first time since 2012, the Affordable Care Act’s approval rating was a net positive, according to a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

5.      Chris Christie rolled out an “entitlement restructuring blueprint" in New Hampshire "that he said would save more than $1 trillion over 10 years.

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Rick Santorum has set up a testing the waters account in anticipation of a possible 2016 presidential bid.

A secretive group that serves as the umbrella operation for leaders and activists within the conservative movement will host two meetings in the coming months.

Chelsea Clinton "is poised to become a major figure in the Clinton campaign.

This Week In Washington, April 10, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      The White House announced a preliminary agreement with Iran to reduce its uranium enrichment capacities and stockpiles in exchange for the US lightening sanctions.

2.      Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) stepped down from his post as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after being indicted on federal corruption charges; he was replaced by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)

3.      The U.S. announced it would increase intelligence sharing and coordination as well as provide arms supplies to a Saudi-led coalition fighting against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

4.      The Bureau of Labor Statistics' March jobs report was released, showing a lower-than-expected 126,000 jobs were created, breaking a 12-month streak of 200,000+ jobs being created; estimates on job creation from January and February were revised down by a total of 69,000.

5.      The chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committees, Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), announced agreement on a bipartisan bill to reform and restructure the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

Look Ahead

The Supreme Court will hear the case of Johnson v. United States on whether possession of a short-barreled shotgun should be treated as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Hillary Clinton (D) leased two floors of office space in Brooklyn for her campaign headquarters on April 1; FEC regulations require that she declare her candidacy or launch an exploratory committee within 15 days after a campaign expenditure of $5000 or more.

This Week In Washington DC, March 13, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      Former Secretary of State and potential presidential candidate Hillary Clinton apologized during a press conference for using a personal (rather than official) e-mail account during her time as secretary of state.

2.      The Supreme Court heard arguments in King v. Burwell, a challenge to the government's ability to provide health insurance subsidies to states without federal exchanges under the Affordable Care Act.

3.      A group of 47 Republican Senators wrote an open letter to Iran's leaders, warning that future presidents could overturn any nuclear deal agreed upon in negotiations if the Senate does not vote to ratify the treaty.

4.      The Senate failed, by four votes, to overturn President Obama's veto of a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

5.      The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employers had posted nearly 5 million available jobs at the end of January, the highest level since the peak of the dot-com bubble in 2001. Job openings are up by 28% in the past year, and the ratio of unemployed workers per opening has returned to pre-crisis levels.

Next Week In Washington

1.      DEBT CEILING EXPIRATION: The current suspension of the debt ceiling ends; the Treasury Department will use extraordinary measures for the next several months to manage the country’s payments and stave off the risk of default.

2.      FCC HEARING: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation holds a hearing about the FCC and net neutrality regulation titled: “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission.” The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a similar hearing on March 19.

3.      CRUDE OIL EXPORT HEARING: The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources holds a hearing to review U.S. crude oil export policy.

4.      DOC FIX DEADLINE: Doctors will see their Medicare payments cut more than 20% unless Congress steps in by the end of the month. Congress is likely to pass another temporary fix; Congress has blocked the payment cuts 17 times in the last 13 years, after mandating the cuts in 1997.

This Week in Washington DC, Feb 26, 2015

This Week In Washington

1.      The FCC voted 3-2 to regulate internet service providers (ISPs) as public utilities under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.

2.      President Obama issued his third-ever veto on a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline; Republicans are planning to hold an override vote, but do not appear to have the support necessary to override a veto. The president will likely use the veto more frequently now that the GOP controls both chambers of Congress.

3.       A new poll shows potential presidential candidate Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) with a double-digit lead among likely voters in the Iowa Republican Presidential Caucuses. However, prediction still have former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) as the favorite to win the nomination overall.

4.      Republican Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a bill that would require the Government Accountability Office to audit any monetary policy decisions made by the Federal Reserve; public approval of the Federal Reserve has become increasingly polarized in recent years.

5.      Alaska and D.C. implemented ballot measures legalizing marijuana this week; Republicans dispute the legality of D.C.'s measure, and have asked Attorney General Eric Holder to file suit against the district.

Next Week In Washington

1.      The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two key cases on March 2 and March 4, including a challenge to the Affordable Care Act's subsidies

2.      Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress on March 3; several Democratic members of Congress are boycotting the speech because Netanyahu agreed to address Congress without informing President Obama beforehand, which some consider to be a breach of diplomatic protocol

3.      After March 15, the Treasury Department will likely implement extraordinary measures to manage the country’s payments and stave off default; prior to that date, expect Congress to begin work on a proposal to raise the debt ceiling

This Week In Washington DC, Jan 30, 2015

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama is set to announce plans to eliminate sequestration in his 2016 budget request, seeking an increase in domestic and military expenditures, financed by eliminating "inefficient spending programs" and closing tax loopholes, according to an administration official.

Look ahead: The president's plan is likely to meet with resistance among Republicans, who oppose any net tax increases.

2.      Loretta Lynch, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York and the president's nominee to serve at attorney general, faced the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, offering a careful defense of administration policies on immigration and drug enforcement and repeatedly emphasizing her independence.

Look ahead: While the proceedings served largely as a venue for the airing of Republican grievances against President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, Lynch is expected to win confirmation.

3.      Fresh off a fight over amendments, the Senate passed legislation to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline setting it up for a veto from the Whitehouse.

Look ahead:  It remains unclear whether Senate Republicans can gather enough support to override a presidential veto.  Republicans made the Keystone pipeline a priority for 2015. 

4.      During a largely ceremonial visit to India, the president reached agreement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greater cooperation on civilian nuclear trade.

Look ahead: India consented to limit the liability of American nuclear suppliers in the event of a power-plant disaster and vowed to implement enhanced tracking of fissile material.

5.      Several Republican presidential hopefuls traveled to summits in Iowa and California in an effort to woo the party's conservative base and secure the backing of major donors.

Look ahead: Even as prospective presidential candidates seek their favor, major GOP donors are taking a measured approach, allowing the field to settle and narrow before committing to a single contender.

This Week In Washington DC, January 22, 2015

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama used his 6th State of the Union address to defend his record and champion new policies, touting an improving economy and calling on Republicans to back an ambitious domestic agenda designed to improve the fortunes of the middle class.

Look ahead: While few, if any, of the president's proposals are likely to gain traction in the current Congress, his policy prescriptions appear designed to set the Democratic Party on a more liberal course ahead of the 2016 election.

2.      Facing opposition from female lawmakers over language that could alienate younger and female voters, House Republicans abandoned plans to hold a vote on H.R. 36, which would have outlawed abortions after 20 weeks, instead moving forward with H.R. 7, which would permanently bar federal funding for abortion services.

Look ahead: Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., maintains the 20-week abortion ban "is only delayed—it will be up on the floor soon."

3.      The president proposed $320 billion in additional taxes—largely aimed at high-income Americans—over the next decade, to be used to fund $235 billion in tax breaks for moderate-income earners, as well as other programs.

Look ahead: Congressional Republicans criticized Obama's plan and warned the proposal risks derailing bipartisan efforts on tax reform.

4.      Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa delivered the Republican Party's response to the State of the Union, emphasizing her own humble roots and combining calls for bipartisan cooperation with assertions of Republican dominance.

Look ahead: Ernst's remarks foreshadowed clashes with the administration over the Keystone pipeline, the federal budget, and abortion rights.

5.      Faced with a stagnant economy and the prospect of deflation, the governing council of the European Central Bank voted to purchase €60 billion in public and private sector assets on a monthly basis, from March 2015 through September 2016.

Look ahead: ECB President Mario Draghi acknowledged the quantitative easing could continue beyond the September 2016 deadline if inflation fails to rise near the bank's target of two percent.

This Week In Washington DC, Jan 15, 2015

This Week In Washington

Top 5 Stories

1.      President Obama continued to preview his State of the Union address this week, traveling the country to promote initiatives to enhance cybersecurity, strengthen consumer and student privacy protections, improve access to high-speed internet, and expand access to higher education.

Look ahead: Several of the president's policy initiatives are likely to meet with Republican resistance in the 114th Congress.

2.      The House voted 236-191 in favor of legislation that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through September, while barring the president's unilateral efforts to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Look ahead: Given the bill's dim prospects in the Senate and Boehner's openness to a "clean" funding bill, House conservatives' immigration gambit could backfire.

3.      The Obama administration faced widespread criticism for not sending a sufficiently high-level representative to a unity march attended by 44 heads of state. Attorney General Eric Holder, intended as the administration's emissary, ultimately did not attend due to scheduling conflicts; U.S. Ambassador to France Jane Hartley served as the government's representative.

Look ahead: Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Paris in a show of American solidarity with France, and on Feb. 18, the White House will host a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, convening state and local officials to discuss strategies for preventing violent incidents.

4.      Republican presidential aspirants readied their potential campaigns, as 2012 nominee Mitt Romney works to reconstitute his political operation and backers of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush aim to raise $100 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Look ahead: With establishment Republicans ambivalent about Romney, several potential rivals are making moves of their own, with Sen. Rand Paul hiring strategist Chip Englander to manage his campaign, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie preparing to launch a leadership PAC ahead of an anticipated late-spring campaign announcement.

5.      Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., announced her intention to retire at the end of her current term, creating frenzy among ambitious state Democrats whose progress has been arrested by the endurance of Boxer, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Gov. Jerry Brown.

Look ahead: State Attorney General Kamala Harris declared her candidacy for the seat, while Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, believed to be weighing a gubernatorial bid in 2018, declined to enter the race.

This Week In Washington DC, Jan 8, 2015

This Week In Washington DC

Top 5 Stories

1.      The 114th Congress opened Tuesday, with Republicans holding majorities in both chambers for the first time since 2006, and barreling toward confrontations with the president over the Affordable Care Act, approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, and immigration.

Look ahead: White House press secretary Josh Earnest warned Tuesday the president will not sign legislation approving the oil-sands pipeline.

2.      Speaker John Boehner secured 216 votes Tuesday to retain his gavel, and moved swiftly to exact a measure of revenge against some defectors, removing  Reps. Richard Nugent and Daniel Webster, both of Florida, from the Rules Committee.

Look ahead: Aides suggest those who opposed Boehner could face further repercussions in the weeks to come.

3.      President Obama this week embarked on a three-day, three-state tour designed to take credit for recent improvements in the nation's economy and preview the policy objectives he will outline in his State of the Union address on Jan 20.

Look ahead: After touting the auto industry bailout in Michigan and promoting homeownership in Arizona, the president is expected to promote job training and college affordability during a Friday stop in Tennessee.

4.      The manhunt continues for brothers Said and Chérif Kouachi in connection with Wednesday's shooting at the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, after suspect Hamyd Mourad surrendered to police in Charleville-Mézières.

Look ahead: Some fear the killings could bolster anti-Islamizations movements in Europe.

5.      Payroll-processing firm ADP reports private-sector employers added 241,000 positions in December—led by gains of 194,000 jobs in the services sector—exceeding economists' projections of 226,000 jobs added.

Look ahead: The December jobs report, slated for release Friday morning, is expected to reflect gains of 240,000 nonfarm jobs and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.