The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
-Calvin Coolidge
“TRUMP IS TEMPORARY, REGULATORY REFORM IS FOREVER*”: With almost everyone on Capitol Hill rushing the legislative gates of regulatory reform, OH Senator Rob Portman is the stand out with his Regulatory Accountability Act - the preferred industry approach and the bane of dozens of interest groups. House Republicans have tried introducing more draconian bills that would allow Congress to have veto authority on any new regulations, but those bills won’t pass the Senate and, with his eye on 60 votes, Portman is reaching across the aisle to include Senators Claire McCaskill and Heidi Heitkamp in his more pragmatic effort. This may not be Steve Bannon’s ideal way “to deconstruct the administrative state,” but it has the best hope in taking a major step in that direction.
CAN’T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER: One of the most important aspects of the Republican ACA repeal bill is the impact it has on future policies. Republicans on the Hill are relying on cuts to Obamacare to make their budget work on other priorities, particularly tax reform. IA Senator Chuck Grassley has lit a fire under Republicans by directly pointing out that tax revision won’t happen if the ACA repeal fails - and is likely the reason Speaker Ryan has been touting the $337 billion in deficit reduction.
BUDGET BLUEPRINT TODAY: After weeks of speculation, the Trump Administration will finally reveal its “skinny” budget today. As expected there will be a $54 billion increase in defense spending with equal cuts across non-defense spending. These cuts will come from a 28% reduction from State and 31% reduction from the EPA as well as cuts from Commerce, Agriculture, Energy, Transportation, and HUD. OMB Director Mike Mulvaney has conceded that the cuts are “quite dramatic” but mirror Trump’s campaign promises. Nothing new here to see folks. Trump will have to woo defense hawks, fiscal conservatives, as well as moderate Republicans to put this one over the top as we don’t see a scintilla of Democratic support on the horizon.
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT: With the debt ceiling deadline today, jockeying over a resolution to raise it is well underway. The Treasury Department will take extraordinary measures to extend its borrowing power into September/October, but Democratic leaders have warned Republicans that they won’t support any package containing controversial riders or poison pills (sound familiar?). Republicans have already vowed to raise the debt limit without the drama that surrounded the 2013 measure and other past struggles to pass the increase without dividing their members and relying on Democrat votes to put them over the top.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED…:: Just hours before Trump’s revised travel ban was going into effect, two federal judges blocked it once again. Judge Derrick Watson cited comments from Trump’s campaign calling for a Muslim ban as a reason the executive order likely wouldn’t hold up in court. Trump attacked the ruling during a campaign style rally in Nashville focusing on the danger it imposed to the security of the nation. After working to appease the judiciary in the second order, this legal battle will likely head to the Supreme Court - that is, once Judge Gorsuch is in place.
FLASH CALL TODAY FROM VIENNA:OPEC STILL OPTIMISTIC PRODUCTION CUTS WILL BRING MARKET BACK INTO BALANCE: Join us today at 11:00 AM where Joe McMonigle will talk about OPEC’s attempts to stabilize prices. You can find a link to the call here.
LIKE WE WERE SAYING: CMS FOLLOWS 1332 WAIVER INVITE WITH EVEN MORE PROMISES OF COOPERATION W/ STATES: Our Senior Health Policy Analyst Emily Evans writes that on the heels of a letter inviting states to DIY their ACA programs, CMS followed up with assurance of more flexibility on existing waivers. You can read the full analysis here.
BRING ON STATE-BASED REFORM: HHS SENDS OPEN INVITE TO GOVERNORS TO APPLY FOR WAIVERS: Emily Evans also writes that regardless of what Congress does with AHCA Section 1332 waivers could radically alter implementation of the ACA. You can read more here.
*Quote by David Faber of the Environmental Working Group.
