The noblest search is the search for excellence.
-Lyndon B. Johnson
JAM SESSIONS: All it took was 24 hours for the glow of Trump’s address to the Joint Session of Congress to disappear. The Trump Administration was once again embroiled in controversy - this time with Attorney General Jeff Sessions. It’s been revealed that twice during the campaign Sessions, at the time a Senator and Trump surrogate, met with the Russian Ambassador despite saying under oath that he had no contacts with the Russians. Sessions heeded calls from Democrats and Republicans alike and recused himself in matters dealing with the 2016 Trump campaign. This will appease many on the Hill, but we don’t think Democrat calls for his head will abate anytime soon.
SIDELINING THE CENTRISTS: With 10 Senate Democrats facing reelection in 2018 in states that Trump won, we thought Senate Republicans would lean more heavily on moderate Democrats. This has not been the case as many Republicans have expressed little motivation to work with Democrats given that they have no intention of supporting the repeal of the ACA. This could end up being a rallying cry for Republicans particularly on ACA repeal and tax reform believing they can hold together and not lose the three votes that would tank their efforts.
A FORK IN THE ROAD:Trump’s address to Congress brought back up the topic of his $1 trillion push for infrastructure. Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Bill Shuster helped push the need for infrastructure spending, but doesn’t believe the whole bill should be footed by the U.S. Treasury. Understanding that fiscal conservatives won’t like the price tag for a massive infrastructure spend, Shuster (and team Trump) believes that the private sector will unleash “billions and billions” to help rebuild the nation's bridges, roads, and airports. Shuster likely won’t get Freedom Caucus votes on any bill, but by getting private sector commitments he could sway more Republicans and some Democrats to back his efforts.
CONFIRMATION ACCELERATION: The Senate is certainly feeling the heat and wants to pivot and move to critical legislative fronts - well, most of the Senate anyway. This week, the upper chamber confirmed Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson putting Trump three confirmations away from a stocked cabinet as he waits on Agriculture, U.S. Trade Representative, and Labor to wrap up the process.
CLEARING UP REGS:Two of Trump’s campaign promises are merging into one. The House passed the Regulatory Integrity Act which increases transparency in the regulatory process. Trump wants to drain the swamp and reform regulations and this bill aims to bolster both causes. The Act requires federal agencies to publish a list of regulations they are writing, a description of those rules, and a timeline for when they will be completed. It also prohibits federal agencies from advocating on behalf of that regulation and appealing to the public.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: We’ll be spending our days next week at the Federal courthouse in Washington, DC - at jury duty - so likely not publishing. Please do not hesitate to email us with questions throughout the week.
REPLAY: WILL CONGRESS PASS TRUMP'S AGENDA: AN ASSESSMENT FROM SPEAKER RYAN'S FORMER CHIEF: We hosted a call on Wednesday with Former Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. For the next few months everyone gets to care about the ACA as its repeal is key to other legislative priorities - including tax reform. You can read the full analysis here.
