Under traditional U.S. Senate rules, unless every senator agrees otherwise it can take 60 votes to invoke “cloture” and limit further debate. However, the Senate has established several exceptions. In
Continue Reading Exceptions to the Senate Filibuster Rule: A Look at Senate Votes in 2021
The legislative process is never straightforward, and this weekend’s news about Sen. Joe Manchin opposing the Build Back Better Act (BBB) is the latest proof. But despite what you may
Continue Reading Staying Engaged on Build Back Better while Preparing for FY2022 Appropriations and the FY2023 President’s Budget
On Nov. 19, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, which contains many of the major Biden administration policy proposals on health care, education, climate
Continue Reading Top 10 Revenue Raisers in the House-Passed Build Back Better Act
“There won’t be an infrastructure bill unless we have a reconciliation bill. Plain and simple.” — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, June 24, 2021
What’s happening on infrastructure? On August
Continue Reading Don’t Forget: The Senate Can’t Pass a Reconciliation Bill Until the House Passes a Budget Resolution
On July 9, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy (see here). The Executive Order contains more than 70 initiatives involving more
Continue Reading Summary of Executive Order on Promoting Competition (July 9, 2021) By Type of Action Required
On June 8th, the U.S. Senate passed S.1260, the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). The legislation strengthens manufacturing and basic research in key industry sectors and
Continue Reading China Competitiveness Legislation and U.S. House Committee Jurisdiction
Last week, the House Republican Conference voted 102-84 to lift their decade-old ban on the practice of earmarks by secret ballot, smoothing the way for a bipartisan resurrection of the
Continue Reading Earmarks Return as ‘Community Project Funding’
“In my first appearance before a joint session of Congress, I will lay out my Build Back Better recovery plan. It’ll make historic investments in infrastructure, that Build Back Better
Continue Reading The ‘Second’ Reconciliation Bill? President Biden’s ‘Build Back Better’ Plan and the Agenda After COVID Legislation
Incoming White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain sent a Saturday memo to incoming White House staff outlining the “First Ten Days.”
He mentioned the following actions to be taken
Continue Reading Biden Administration: The First Ten Days
With the outcome of last week’s Georgia Senate runoff elections producing a 50-50 Senate ratio and giving Senate Democrats majority status, there is renewed interest in the Congressional Review
Continue Reading Will the New Congress Reverse Any “Midnight Rules?”