Shutdown Averted

Posted on September 30, 2015September 30, 2015

Earlier this morning, the Senate passed a clean continuing resolution (CR) extending federal funding authority until December 11th. Last week, the Senate tried and failed to pass a CR which would prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds. The measure failed, which cleared the way for the clean CR.

Just now, the House cleared, 277-151, a two-month stopgap spending bill on Wednesday that will avert a government shutdown. Earlier, the Senate passed the measure 78-20. The bill, which will keep the government funded through Dec. 11, is expected to be quickly signed by President Barack Obama.

The measure was approved only with strong support by House Democrats — a sign of just how angry rank-and-file Republicans remain. In one last display of their fury, House Republicans on Tuesday adopted another resolution to cut off government financing to Planned Parenthood. The resolution was to be sent to the Senate, where Democrats were certain to block it.

Power Scramble for House GOP

Posted on September 29, 2015

With Boehner’s retirement announcement, his position, and the power of Speaker, is now up for grabs. His successor — Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is considered the front-runner — may have just as much difficulty in pacifying conservative Republicans willing to hold important legislation hostage to their priorities.

Some ambitious members already in leadership vying to move up the ladder, but the position of Majority Leader seems to have the greatest horse race in the likely event the current officeholder, McCarthy, succeeds Boehner as Speaker. Thus far, McCarthy appears to have little, if any competition.

Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) have all been speculated to want to the job and have not been hiding their ambitions. They used the weekend to make calls to colleagues to get commitments of support, and they solidified their whip teams to help make the rounds and nudge undecideds.

Late yesterday, Rep. Tom Price, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, announced his intention to run for Majority Leader with two high profile endorsements of Rep. Jeb Henserling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee and Vice Presidential candidate in 2012. With those endorsements, McMorris Rogers announced her intention not to run for Speaker and remain Caucus Chair.

Thus far, it is a horserace between Whip Scalise and Pryce for the Majority Leader position. Both are staunch conservatives from southern states. It should be noted that the House GOP conference does not require the current seat holder to withdraw from leadership to run for higher office, so conceivably if Price wins, Scalise could remain the GOP Whip.

Who takes the helm to lead the GOP will have tremendous impact and shape the eventual FY2016 appropriations as well as impact if the functioning of the government.

Boehner’s Retirement Means CR Likely to Pass

Posted on September 28, 2015September 28, 2015

With Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) surprise retirement announcement on Friday, the forecast for Congress to actually pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) and keep the federal government operating are better than ever. Last week, prior to Boehner’s announcement, the Senate failed to pass a CR because the legislation included language to withhold any federal funds going to Planned Parenthood. With the failure of that Senate bill, the path was cleared to have the Senate pass a “clean” CR, meaning a measure without political policy riders such as the Planned Parenthood language.

While something may pass the Senate, passing a clean measure in the House was always going to be more challenging given the Republican caucus. Many Republican House Members had declared that they would never vote for a measure that allowed Planned Parenthood access to federal funds.Conservative Republicans have demanded such a provision, but it has already failed in the Senate and the President has pledged to veto it. Further, the same Members have vocally castigating the Speaker for “compromising” on legislation and working with the House Democratic caucus to craft a bill that would pass the House. Rhetoric prior to the retirement announcement was similar on the CR for potentially eliminating Planned Parenthood language.

Boehner stated shortly after his retirement announcement that he would ensure the House would pass a clean CR, which would fund the federal government until December 11th. Additionally, Boehner has said that he will rely on Democratic support to pass a CR in the House.

While Friday’s announcement may avert an immediate shutdown, what happens later this fall is far from clear. The threat of another funding funding cliff is more than likely, with the expiration date of the short-term CR potentially coinciding with the debt ceiling fight and the expiration of tax breaks. There’s also the highway bill, two major education bills, and reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Congress has until midnight September 30th to pass an appropriations bill to keep the federal government running.

Meanwhile, Boehner’s retirement has set off a scramble for the House Republican Leadership positions, so who will land where, in what role, and how they will handle the ever polarized caucus remains to be seen.

Speaker Boehner to Retire in October

Posted on September 25, 2015

Today, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has announced his intent to retire from Congress at the end of October. This move will relinquish both the House seat and the Speakership. Originally, Boehner intended to serve through the end of the last Congress, but with the loss of Republican Whip Eric Canter in 2014, made Boehner change his plans. Boehner’s leadership has endured a tumultuous time in Congress including growing divisiveness both within Congress as well as strident factions within the Republican party. The retirement could set off a distinct shift in Republican party leadership and Congress.

Move to Defund Planned Parenthood Fails in Senate

Posted on September 24, 2015September 25, 2015

Senate Democrats and a eight Republicans blocked a proposal that a constituted a continuing resolution that would run through December 11 and prohibit for one year federal funding for Planned Parenthood or its affiliates unless they certify that they will not perform or fund abortions during that period. The Senate rejected, 47-52, the motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment to the joint resolution. The measure failed to even win a simple majority vote.

Sixty votes were needed to advance the measure. Republican senators voting with Democrats included Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Ben Sasse (R-NE).

Following the failure, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved to set up a vote on a clean spending bill that would avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1, although House Speaker John Boehner still has not said whether his chamber will take up the Senate legislation.

The Senate is expected to take a cloture vote in relation to a “clean” continuing resolution on Monday, September 28th, two days before the government’s funding authority expires.