What’s Up Washington (Sept. 13, 2017)

1 min read


Today in Congress

 

House in at 10 AM  for morning hour and noon for legislative business. First votes expected 1:30 -2:30 PM, Last votes at 5 – 6 PM. Votes continue on 224 amendments to the "minibus" multi-agency spending bill.

Senate in at 10 AM with continued consideration of the motion to proceed to the FY18NDAA. Vote expected today on a motion to table the Paul amendment to sunset the current AUMF.


 

 

 

ICYMI

 

  • It’s health care day on the Hill with the introduction of the Graham-Cassidy bipartisan plan (release|text|SxS) and Sanders’ “Medicare for All” (Summary|SxS)

  • More Dem senators signed onto the Sanders plan (& leadership kept distance)

  • Senate Finance leaders Hatch [R, UT] and Wyden [D, OR] announce 5-year CHIP deal (State Children's’ Health Insurance Program)

  • Sen. Paul [R, KY] was given four hours of debate and a vote on his amendment to sunset the current AUMF [Senate voted to table 61-36]

  • Last night at the White House: bipartisan senators had “constructive” tax reform talk with President Trump over egg-shaped ice cream

  • Tax plan details are coming

  • No promises that it will be deficit neutral, which will be emphasized by Democrats given disaster funding needs

  • Resolution condemning white supremacists and violence in Charlottesville unanimously passed House & Senate, now goes to president

  • Tonight: Chuck and Nancy will dine at the White House

  • On the menu: DREAM Act, health care (with two scoops of tax reform we bet)

  • Trump unlikely to push for wall funding in exchange for DACA fix

  • Speaker Ryan meeting with Pelosi and TriCaucus (CBC, CHC, CAPAC) leaders today to talk legislative options for DREAMers

  • Anyone looking at side effects of Americans watching 16 hours (!) of pharmaceutical ads each year?

  • Report: Trump planning to reduce refugee levels for 2018 to 50,000 (lowest levels in a decade)

  • It’s still really hard to find gas in Florida for people trying to get home post-evacuation

  • “The Mooch” to host TMZ live next Monday

  • Victory declared on quest to reduce cost of solar power (watch this space as discussion turns to tax reform and existing credits)

  • Sen. Heitkamp [D, ND] says “somebody ought to go to jail” if found that Equifax execs sold stock before data breach became public

  • So… we should probably talk about the whole White-House-visit-Trump-hotel package the Malaysian president just enjoyed

  • Treasury expanding investigations into high end real estate deals for potential money laundering

  • HUD Sec Carson did not violate the Hatch Act with his appearance in an official capacity at President Trump’s campaign-style rally in Phoenix, according to Office of Special Counsel

  • Bipartisan pitchforks out for Silicon Valley

  • More a question of “when” than “if” Facebook officials will testify on Russian activities on the platform to influence the 2016 election

  • Thoughts with Rep. Loudermilk [R, GA] and his wife, who were in a car accident returning to DC from Georgia

  • All the big announcements from yesterday’s Apple event

  • Did we really need  a “hipster banana”?

     

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