President Donald Trump will sign an executive order today directing federal agencies to recommend changes to a temporary visa program used to bring foreign, high-skilled workers to the United States.
Here's a quick look at some key issues investors should keep an eye on from Hedgeye's JT Taylor and our team of Washington Policy analysts in D.C.
MADE IN THE USA
#BuyAmerican #H1BVisa
President Trump will sign an executive order today that will push forward with his “Buy American, Hire American” promises. The Buy American part will be headed by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross who will work across the government to root out weak monitoring, enforcement, and compliance to procurement policies, and assess the trade deals that allow foreign companies to bid on government contracts.
The Hire American part will call for a redesign of the H-1B visa program, which allows companies to bring in highly skilled foreign workers. Typically the visa program gives higher educated workers an advantage, but the Administration is looking to change that so it will not undercut skilled Americans seeking employment.
BRINGING STABILITY
#Obamacare #GOP #RepealAndReplace
Republicans are trying a new way to get the ACA repealed and replaced. They have created the Patient and State Stability Fund that would allow states to use their share of the $100 billion fund to help out insurers and subsidize the high cost of the chronically ill. Republicans have been working on this fund since before the election and have slowly been adding money to address major sticking points such as maternity care and substance use disorder treatment. Conservatives and Moderates are still sparring over other parts of the AHCA, but the Stability Fund is one area on which both sides agree.
SMALL BIZ RELIEF
#RedTape #Regulations
House Republicans continue to forge ahead on regulatory reform - and are now looking to curb costly regulations through the Regulatory Accountability Act which would require federal agencies to issue the least costly rules to address problems. To ease regs on small business, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act requires federal agencies to consider the impact their rules have on small businesses. The House also plans to put forward bills that extend the regulatory process, making Congress the regulatory gatekeeper, and review existing regulations so they can keep Trump’s promise to cut 75 percent of regulations.
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
After the Republicans narrowly won Mike Pompeo’s seat in Kansas last week, all eyes turn to the race to replace HHS Secretary Tom Price in Georgia-6 today where Democrat Jon Ossoff continues to have a stranglehold on the rest of the field. The latest polling numbers have Osoff at 45.3 percent, but he’ll need to garner another five points if he wants to win outright and avoid a runoff in June where he would face a much tougher race with the field winnowed down to two candidates. The seat has been held by Republicans for almost 40 years (Price carried it by 23), but President Trump’s margin here was a mere 1.5 points and Republicans are doing everything they can to avoid the likely mainstream media narrative that voters are repudiating the president and their agenda.
*DEREGULATION COMING FOR INCUMBENT ENTERPRISE LINES
Our Senior Telecom & Media Policy Analyst Paul Glenchur writes that by reversing Obama FCC policy trends, the Republican-led FCC is deregulating incumbent carrier enterprise service rates. You can find the full piece here.
*DEFENSE UPDATE: IT WILL BE CLOSE BUT PENTAGON WILL GET ITS APPROPS BILL
Our Senior Defense Policy Analyst LtGen Emo Gardner writes that no later than early May Congress will pass an FY17 appropriations bill that will be within 1% of what Pentagon expected under Obama. You can read the full analysis here.
*TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FINALIZES "MARKET STABILIZATION" RULE - SHORTER OPEN ENROLLMENT GONNA HURT
Our Senior Health Policy Analyst Emily Evans writes that the rule as proposed being finalized. Biggest impact from change in open enrollment dates, network adequacy and limiting SEPs/grace periods. You can find the full analysis here.
*GENERAL DAN CHRISTMAN- US-RUSSIA: BACK TO THE FUTURE
You can find General Christman’s piece here.
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