IMMIGRATION STAGNATION: While the internet is buzzing with quick whip commentary between CNN’s Jim Acosta and White House Aide Stephen Miller, we are focusing on what Congressional Republicans are saying on the new immigration bill. It still needs to go through Congress and needs 60 votes in the Senate, but aside from Democrats, there are Republicans vocally opposing the legislation. Many businesses, especially in rural areas, depend on a low-skilled and immigrant work force, the group most affected by the proposition. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tweeted his state's economy (driven by agriculture and tourism) would suffer if this became law. Much the same as the last time Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and David Purdue (R-GA) introduced an immigration bill, we don’t see this one going very far.
CHINA’S BACK IN THE USTR: The Administration is weighing options to take action against China for their unfair trade deals and slow efforts to curb North Korea’s behavior. There was once a time when President Trump’s sour campaign rhetoric on China was made sweeter with chocolate cake, now all that’s left is a bitter aftertaste. We have been waiting for President Trump to use tariffs or quotas on Chinese steel imports as the main way to stifle China, but Trump says he has even more options on the table, that could happen in the coming days. He is also expected to call on the USTR in the next couple days to investigate China for violating intellectual property rights in the U.S., which could lead to Trump exerting more punitive power over the country.
HEALTH CARE HANG UP: Despite a budding effort from Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dean Heller (R-NV), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to pass their bill (which has some good provisions) across party lines, we still don’t see a bipartisan repeal and replace measure passing Congress. President Trump continues to threaten to implode insurance markets by withholding payments, which could force Congress’s hand to take a bipartisan approach with a stabilization measure. The president could decide in the next two days, and there are already bipartisan health care hearings setup for early next week.
CONGRESSIONAL BLOCKAGE: While the extra two weeks in Senate before recess were supposed to give Congress more time for health care, the debt ceiling and nominations, it has been as underwhelming as the past six months. All the Senate has to show for this week is the confirmation of FBI Director Christopher Wray. Now, there is talk the Senate may go ahead and leave early after being unable to reconcile their differences on raising the debt ceiling or garnering the votes to start a new health care effort; September is going to be brutal with only 12 working days on the books. FDA reauthorization is expected today or tomorrow and EXIM bank nominee, the embattled former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), is expected in more meetings on the Hill as a last ditch chance to revive his nomination, after Senators and business groups have called Trump’s choice into question.
CALL INVITE | VITAL SIGNS OF JULY 2017 | THEMES UPDATE: Our Senior Health Policy Analyst Emily Evans is hosting a video conference call and live Q&A on Monday, August 7th at 11am ET. Get the event details here.
IT IS IRF (AND SNF) DAY! CMS FINALIZES ANNUAL PAYMENT UPDATE AS EXPECTED: Our Senior Health Policy Analyst Emily Evans wrote that the Congressional 1% update override takes a lot of the excitement out of this year's rules. Action is with SNF payment system changes. Read the full piece here.
SPRINT/T-MOBILE: THE REGULATORY PROSPECTS (S, TMUS, CHTR, CMCSA, VZ, T): Our Senior Telecom Analyst Paul Glenchur writes cable and wireless convergence is the story du jour, but Sprint/T-Mobile is still on the table with reasonable regulatory prospects. Read his full piece here.
