US Policy
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- US Policy
Ukraine/Israel aid hits home stretch.
On Saturday the House approved the package of bills that sends military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The House-approved bill contains $60B for Ukraine, $26B for Israel, and $8B for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region. Under the plan devised by Speaker Johnson there were four separate votes: one each...
- US Policy
House Moves Forward with Supplemental Aid Bill
In a dramatic bipartisan move, Republicans and Democrats worked together to move the National Security Supplemental funding bill towards a House vote. The first step in getting most bills to the House floor is the approval of a RULE that allocates the time for debate on the legislation and what...
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Israel and Iran take spotlight
This past weekend the world watched as Iran launched hundreds of weapons towards Israel in response to the Israeli bombing of the Iranian embassy in Syria that killed several key Iranian generals. The Israeli iron dome air defenses, along with support from key Israeli allies including the US, knocked nearly...
- US Policy
Speaker Johnson and Trump to Meet
On Friday, House Speaker Johnson will head to Mar-a-Lago for a meeting with former President Trump, seeking to enhance cooperation between them as Trump prepares to be the Party’s nominee in November. Under the Republican House rules it only takes one House Member to move to vacate the Speaker’s position....
- US Policy
Congress returns, busy Wednesday
Congress returns after their two-week Easter break. House Speaker Johnson announced that he will formally send the Senate the bill of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The Mayorkas impeachment is the first one against a member of the President’s cabinet in over 100 years. The House impeached Mayorkas...
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Congress Set to Return, Yellen in China
Next week Congress returns, with political agendas taking center stage. House Speaker Johnson has said that the House will formally send the Senate its bill of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. It has been over 100 years since a cabinet member has been impeached by the House, and...
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Congress out, important April travel
Both the House and the Senate are on Easter break this week, but they return next week with the House ready to see the Republican majority shrink to just one vote, finding a pathway to approve aid to Ukraine and Israel, while the Senate will get the impeachment resolution against...
- US Policy
US funded until Oct. 1; House majority to shrink
Last Friday the clock struck 12:00 and there was no budget for 75% of the US Government but relief was at hand. At 2:00am the Senate passed the so-called mini-bus appropriations bill that completes the funding process for fiscal year 2024 that started on October 1, of last year. This...
- US Policy
DC Shutdown Watch
The House today (Friday) voted 286 Yes to 134 No to pass the so-called minibus legislation funding the government through October 1, 2024 -- the end of the current fiscal year. The bill was considered under a parliamentary process in the House referred to as “suspension of the rules” that...
- US Policy
Fed decision and shutdown deadline this week in DC
This Tuesday and Wednesday the Fed’s Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) meets to determine interest rate policy. Chair Powell and most of the “Fed speak” has indicated that there will be no changes in rates at the March meeting. At the end of the meeting at 2:00pm on Wednesday the...