Washington Weekly - April 12

This Week:

The House and Senate are in recess.

Federal:

IRS: Months in the making, the Internal Revenue Service released its blueprint last week about how it would spend $80 billion in additional funding received from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  Over the next ten years, key points include: Over the next two years, an additional 8,700 auditors and 13,400 service representatives to increase staffing levels (which are down 20% compared to 2010); increased scrutiny and audits on households making over $400,000 a year, as well as for high-wealth individuals and corporations; closing the “tax gap” which is estimated to be $600 billion in uncollected taxes annually; upgrading technology to increase data analysis and to make it easier to file digitally.

More CODELs: Better known as Congressional Delegations.  After Congressional meetings with the Taiwanese President last week, another meeting with a head of state was announced on Tuesday.  Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) traveled to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  Sen. Graham said he had a ‘productive meeting’ with the monarch and sought to ‘take the US-Saudi relationship to the next level.’ The meeting also resulted in gratitude for the purchase of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which are built in South Carolina, for $37 billion.

POTUS: President Biden is in Ireland this week to celebrate the anniversary of the Good Friday Accords. 

Next Week: Even though floor schedules have yet to drop, expect a veto override of the WOTUS (Waters of the United States) legislation, a House Judiciary Committee hearing in New York regarding Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and the attempted subpoena of a former subordinate (Bragg sued to block it); and anticipated hearings on the classified Pentagon documents leak. Budget bills will need to be advanced and a check-up on the latest debt limit news.

Politics:

Exploring: As expected, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) has announced the formation of an exploratory committee for President.  He has been traversing the country for several months gauging support for a run and this is the next step.  Should Sen. Scott decide to make a formal announcement, he will join the field that includes former President Donald Trump, former UN Ambassador and SC Gov. Nikki Haley, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.  While Gov. Ron DeSantis has been traveling in connection with a national book tour, he has not made an announcement.  On the Democratic side, President Biden announced during the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House that he’s planning on running, but not ready to announce.

Midwest Conventions: On Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee announced that the 2024 DNC Convention will be held in Chicago.  It was last held there in 1996.  Republicans had already announced that their convention will be held in Milwaukee. 

President Biden Job Approval (RCP Average): 44% Approve – 52% Disapprove. The House currently has a composition of 222 Republicans to 213 Democrats. The Senate is comprised of 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans.