Four Things to Know: What the Election Results Mean for Trade Policy

By Tyler Thompson on November 13, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, Trade

Democrats’ new majority in the House will bring the Trump administration’s past trade actions, as well as those under consideration, into sharper focus. Trade is shaping up to be a key issue heading into the 2020 election cycle, with President Donald Trump’s “protectionist” rhetoric aligning with that of progressive Democrats and at odds with lawmakers who favor free-trade policies. Trade will be seen through this strange dichotomy as Democrats seek to undermine the president and scuttle his agenda through oversight while trying to protect and advance their own trade policy positions.

Four Things to Know: What the Election Results Mean for Energy Policy

By Adam Higgins on November 13, 2018 Posted in Energy, Federal Policy

House Democrats are preparing an aggressive oversight agenda in the 116^th Congress, and their most intense assault could be on the Trump administration’s energy and environmental agenda. Here are four things to know about how the 2018 elections will impact energy policy in 2019.

Four Things to Know: What the Election Results Mean for Tech Policy

By Gregory J. Orlando on November 13, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, Technology

While much of the tech policy focus in 2019 will be centered on scrutinizing social media platforms and whether consumers’ privacy is being adequately protected, there also will be opportunities for bipartisan efforts to move key technology initiatives. Here are four things to know about how the 2018 elections will impact tech policy in 2019.

Four Things to Know: What the Election Results Mean for Tax Policy

By Chris Jones on November 13, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, Tax

When Republicans muscled the Tax Cut and Jobs Act through Congress in late 2017, all Democrats could do was howl from the sidelines. Procedurally, Republicans didn’t need Democrats’ support to approve the sweeping tax overhaul for corporations and individuals. When Democrats take the House majority in January, they will use their new investigative powers to conduct oversight hearings of the tax cut law. But Democrats won’t have the power to overturn it. Here are four things to know about how the 2018 elections will impact tax policy in 2019.

Four Things to Know: What the Election Results Mean for Infrastructure Policy

By Adam Higgins on November 13, 2018 Posted in Congress, Federal Policy, Infrastructure

House Democrats will use their majority next year to push comprehensive legislation to increase infrastructure spending and transportation-related taxes to help pay for it. In fact, key Democrats say they want to move a bill out of the House early in 2019 before Washington becomes consumed by the 2020 presidential campaign (at least 10 current House and Senate Democrats could be White House candidates). Addressing the big-picture infrastructure needs of the country is something Republicans and Democrat do agree on, but thorny details are likely to scuttle a bipartisan agreement. Here are four things to know about how the 2018 elections will impact infrastructure policy in 2019.

The Weekly Hill Update

By Adam Higgins on November 13, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, The Weekly Hill Update

Below is the federal policy team’s weekly preview, published each week when Congress is in session.

HEADLINES

• Congress returns for its lame-duck session as Democrats look toward taking control of the House agenda in January. Democrats won a net gain of nearly 40 seats in last week’s midterm election, though the size of their majority will be narrower than Republicans’ current House majority.

• House and Senate Republicans will hold their leadership elections Wednesday. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., are likely to take the top spots in their respective conferences.

• President Donald Trump plans to spend the week in Washington, including holding a celebration of Diwali on Tuesday and visiting the Washington Marine Corps Barracks later in the week.

Capitol Hill Healthcare Update

By Chris Jones on November 12, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, Healthcare

Below is this week’s “Capitol Hill Healthcare Update,” which is posted on Mondays when Congress is in session. Highlights this week: Democrats’ takeover of the House will yield big changes for healthcare policy in 2019; several GOP lawmakers active in healthcare policy are defeated; pharma pushes for Part D changes in the lame duck; and more.

Five Things to Know: What the Election Results Mean for Financial Services Policy

By Peggy Peterson on November 8, 2018 Posted in Federal Policy, Financial Services

The Democrats’ takeover of the House will hand a key committee gavel – and the power to issue subpoenas – to one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest critics. It also will trigger aggressive oversight of the Trump administration, especially its drive to defang the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and to roll back Dodd-Frank financial rules. Here are five things to know about how the elections will impact financial services policy in 2019:

Five Things to Know: What the Election Results Mean for Healthcare Policy

By Chris Jones on November 8, 2018 Posted in Congress, Healthcare

Democrats’ slender majority in the House next year will have an outsized impact on healthcare policy and healthcare stakeholders in 2019 and beyond. From potential bipartisan deals on prescription drug prices to Democrats’ “shock and awe” oversight agenda, here are five things to know about what the 2018 midterm election results mean for healthcare policy in 2019.

Legislative Webinar: Narrow Pathway for Bipartisanship in 2019

By Chris Jones on November 8, 2018 Posted in Congress, Federal Policy

A Democrat-controlled House and a Republican majority in the Senate – with President Donald Trump at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue – is likely a recipe for gridlock next year on Capitol Hill, according to two former congressmen.

Former Reps. Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., and Heath Shuler, D-N.C., said there are narrow opportunities for bipartisanship – such as in infrastructure of prescription drug prices – but House Democrats’ investigations into the Trump administration could extinguish what little desire there is for the parties to work together.