BCRA unlikely to survive the Parliamentarian? Hold your horses.

Much has been made of Democrat “obstruction” when it comes to confirming President Trump’s nominees for positions ranging from agency officials to federal judges. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell noted it in a press release last week, where he blamed the Senate’s slow pace of confirmations on Democrats getting in the way. But is this […]

After failing to repeal Obamacare earlier this year using the Fiscal Year 2017 reconciliation process, the Senate has found itself in a peculiar position. The reconciliation bill for FY2017 still remains on the Senate calendar, available for use. But for how long? Until this fiscal year ends on September 30, 2017? Until the end of […]

This is Part II of a two-part interview with conservative philosopher, former aide to President Ronald Reagan, and author, Donald Devine. You can read Part I here. Don Devine is one of only a handful of people in Washington who truly understands The Swamp – what makes it tick, how it operates, and how best […]

Conservatives have been understandably frustrated with Congress’s inability to repeal Obamacare. That frustration continues to grow, as House and Senate leadership have made it apparent that they’d like to move on to other issues. The House Freedom Caucus is determined not to let them. Just before Congress left for their summer recess, the House Freedom […]

In a city where institutional experience is often in short supply, seeking it out can be a valuable exercise. That was my goal when I sat down with Donald Devine – a former aide to President Reagan, prolific author, and intellectual godfather in the conservative movement. Devine cut his teeth in the early, salad days […]

Congress officially limps into their summer recess today, leaving town with almost no legislative accomplishments despite GOP majority control of the House, Senate and White House. The real news, however, is not what they leave behind. It’s what’s ahead. Consider what’s on the fall agenda for Congress when they return to town on September 5. Government […]

Though they promised to repeal it “root and branch” if voters just gave them the majority, congressional Republicans have failed, again, to muster the votes for Obamacare repeal. So what’s next? Notable author and former staffer to President Ronald Reagan, Don Devine, points out that the White House can act on some issues unilaterally. He […]

With the dramatic vote to proceed to the American Health Care Act (the repeal bill the Senate passed in 2015) this afternoon, the Senate teed up a process that will shortly move to reconciliation (more on that here). As part of the reconciliation process, members will have an opportunity to offer a virtually unlimited amount […]

The Senate is careening toward a full on reconciliation process on their latest attempt at Obamacare repeal. What is the motion to proceed, is vote-a-rama a real thing or a circus ride, and what? The Senate will vote until 3a? From the motion to proceed to vote-a-rama, Brookings’ Molly Reynolds has a great explainer to get […]

Today, former U.S. Senator Jim DeMint announced that he will serve as Chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI), a new nonprofit focused on providing conservative leaders and staff in Washington with the tools, tactics, resources and strategies to advance conservative policies in Congress. “Conservatives have built a strong system of electing new leaders to […]

On Friday, Senator Bernie Sanders released a document claiming that the Senate Parliamentarian was prepared to invalidate large portions of the BCRA as “noncompliant” with the Byrd Rule – the law that governs consideration of Senate reconciliation bills. Specifically, Sanders’ document highlighted restrictions on tax credits being used for abortion, and defunding of Palnned Parenthood, […]

I’ve written here about how, in a little noticed floor fight, Senator Mike Lee laid the groundwork for the Senate’s first meaningful (that is, a vote at majority threshold, not at 60) vote on Obamacare repeal in 2015. For students of the Senate, the process by which this occurred is as instructive as it was […]

In this latest iteration of the GOP health care drama, there are a handful of Senators who are defining the debate around Obamacare repeal: Rand Paul and Susan Collins, for their flat out refusal to support the BCRA in any form (though for opposite reasons); Lisa Murkowski and Shelley Moore Capito for their unabashed opposition to […]

Like President Trump realized earlier this year, healthcare is complicated. Between reconciliation, the Byrd rule, Title I regulations and risk pools, there’s a lot to keep track of in this year’s healthcare reform debate. Check out the resources below for some guideposts. On the Senate’s bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 Healthcare expert […]

Since November 8, 2016, we’ve been living in a political paradigm shift. The desires and will of the electorate – difficult to predict on a good day – have shifted seismically, forming new coalitions and disintegrating others. In particular, the Trump voters – who they are, where they live, and, ultimately, what they want – continue […]