• US Policy
Fri September 2, 2022

Congress has one more week of their August/Labor Day recess before returning to DC on September 13 for a three-week pre-midterm session where mission number one is to pass a stopgap budget measure to in order to prevent a partial government shutdown on October 1....

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  • US Policy
Mon March 28, 2022

Ukraine, new budget, nominees

Ukraine dominates after President ends Europe trip with major misstep calling for regime change in Russia making exit for Putin more difficult.  Remarks quickly walked backed by White House - he didn’t say what he said.Could China or Israel help to broker peace deal?President puts forward FY 2023 budget, FY...

  • US Policy
Tue January 18, 2022

Powell progresses, Budget next up

Chair Powell got through Senate confirmation hearing and is on path to second term.  Biden nominates three more Board Members: two blacks, two women: more diversity.Fed rate decisions: surprise vs telegraph – Fed telegraphing March increase.Congressional appropriators meet to try and find agreement on budget for current fiscal year as...

  • US Policy
Mon August 23, 2021

House Returns with Divisions over Budget and Infrastructure

KEY POINTSAfghanistan policy takes center stage while Congress must deal with budget and infrastructure.House returns from August break for short session to unlock Budget Reconciliation process by passing the Senate approved $3.5T Budget Resolution.9 moderate Democrats threaten to block action if Speaker doesn’t change course and allow a vote on...

  • US Policy
Fri June 4, 2021

Infrastructure, Budget, and Reconciliation

While Congress was out of session this week for the Memorial Day break, talks between the White House and Senate Republicans on infrastructure continued. Both sides appear to be moving towards a price tag of $1T, but the stumbling block to an agreement may be how to pay for the...

  • US Policy
Fri May 28, 2021

Congress Heads Home, Budget and Infrastructure Wait

There is an old saying in Washington that the nation is safer when Congress is not in session, so next week as Congress is gone for the Memorial Day holiday we can all sleep better knowing that Congress is out of DC. The Senate will only take one week off...

  • US Policy
Fri April 9, 2021

Biden’s Budget And Infrastructure Welcomes Congress Back

After the Easter/Passover break Congress returns next week with the legislative focus on President Biden’s proposed budget, and the continuing discussion of a large infrastructure bill. On Friday the Biden Administration released the outline of its budget recommendations. Democrats have long complained that too much federal spending was going towards...

  • US Policy
Fri December 6, 2019

U.S.-China Tariff, Budget Resolution Deadlines Loom

It appears that ebb and flow of the U.S.-China trade talks continues to be the issue which markets focus on, while investors largely ignore the back and forth on the potential impeachment of President Donald Trump by the House of Representatives. Impeachment seems to be a side show for markets,...

  • US Policy
Fri November 15, 2019

Congress Expected to Pass Temporary Budget by Nov. 21

Thursday, November 21, is the deadline for Congress to pass legislation to ensure that there is no government shutdown. It is widely expected that Congress will pass another Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep funding at current spending levels. As is often the case in Washington under President Trump, there is...

  • US Policy
Fri October 18, 2019

Impeachment House Distraction May be Good News for Trump

The potential impeachment of President Donald Trump and the ongoing military conflict in Syria continue to dominate the headlines, with little else able to generate interest. Ironically, this could be good news for the President, as the Democrats’ 2018 gains were due to Americans’ concern with health insurance, prescription drugs,...

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  • US Policy
Fri August 2, 2019

Budget deal approved; US-China Trade Tensions Worsen with One Trump Tweet

Well, they did it. The House and Senate have finally given approval to the two-year budget and debt ceiling bill. It's now in the President's hands for his signature while the legislature is on holiday until Labor Day. The budget and debt deal removes the threat of a government default...

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