Washington Weekly - August 10, 2022

Note:

If you, your families, or employees are planning to travel to Washington, DC this summer and would like to tour the U.S. Capitol, it is vital that you contact your respective member of Congress well ahead of time.  Access to the Capitol is still largely restricted and only member offices can schedule tours for their constituents.  White House Appointments also need to be made through Congressional offices. To find your member of Congress, please click here. 

This Week:

• The House and Senate are in recess. 

Congress:

It Just Happened: With unusually rapid pace, the Senate Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 passed 51-50 over the weekend, with Vice President Harris casting the tie breaking vote.  This is the Biden Administration’s landmark climate, tax and healthcare legislation that has gone though several changes since last year.  Major highlights:

• $300 billion for green energy initiatives, including $60 billion to help manufacturing and development of alternative/sustainable items like solar panels.
• Credits for carbon capture facilities that begin construction before 2033, credits for biofuels through 2024, up to $1,200 in credits for home energy efficiency improvements (including windows, doors, heat pumps, etc.) and deductions for energy efficient buildings, tax credits for EVs, provides $330 million to states to meet or exceed the International Energy Conservation Code, provides up to $40 billion in loan guarantees for GHG reductions, EPA charges on methane emissions once a certain threshold is met.   
• $2,000 annual cap on prescription drug costs for people on Medicare and a three-year extension on subsidies for those that are on Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) insurance.
• 15% minimum tax on corporations making more than $1 billion.  While the carry interest loophole was dropped to gain Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s (D-AZ) support, a 1% tax on stock buybacks was added.
• $80 billion for the IRS, to hire 87,000 new agents that is anticipated to bring in over

How It Happened: Once Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had the commitments from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sinema, he moved quickly to get the bill out of the chamber before anything could derail it.  Now, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), will have to make sure that the progressive wing of her party will support the bill, even though many do not think it goes far enough. 

CHIPS: On Tuesday, President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law.  In addition to providing funding and incentives to domestic semiconductor production, the bill also creates a new National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) program for premise plumbing research.  

Politics:

RIP, Rep. Jackie Walorski: Last Wednesday, Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) was tragically killed in a car accident, along with two of her staffers and the occupant of another vehicle, in Elkhart County, Indiana.  Rep. Walorski was first elected to her seat in 2012 and served as the ranking member on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was in line to become the Chair of the House Ethics Committee, should Republicans take back the House in the fall.  Flags were lowered to half mast shortly after news of her death broke. 

Tuesday Primaries:  On Tuesday, primary elections were held in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Connecticut: Former Trump nominee for Ambassador to Chile, Leora Levy, declared victory over former Connecticut House Minority Leader Themis Klarides to take on Sen. Richard Blumenthal in November. 

Minnesota: In MN-5, ‘Squad’ member Ilhan Omar appears to have fought off a spirited primary challenge from pro-police Democrat Don Samuels.  Rep. Omar, at the time of writing, is ahead by just two points.  Gov. Tim Walz will face Republican Scott Jensen in the fall.

Vermont: Rep. Peter Welch won the Democratic nomination to succeed longtime Sen. Patrick Leahy.  He will face Republican Gerald Malloy in November.  Gov. Phil Scott easily won the Republican nomination as he stands for re-election. 

Wisconsin: Incumbent GOP Sen. Ron Johnson and Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes both easily won their respective nominations for Senate.  Gov. Tony Evers (D) will take on Trump-endorsed businessman Tim Michels this fall, after Michels defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch by 5 points in the Republican primary. 

Washington State **UPDATE**: Last week, it appeared that five-term Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-3) had moved on to the next round of voting, after she was ahead of her Trump-endorsed opponent Joe Kent.  As of this Tuesday night, Kent pulled ahead by 900 votes and Beutler conceded the race.  She had drawn the ire of former President Trump, as one of ten House Republicans to vote for his impeachment in 2021. 

Generic Congressional Ballot (RCP Average): Republicans +0.1

President Biden Job Approval (RCP Average): 40% Approve – 56% Disapprove

Retirement Tracker:  Senate: (1 D, 5 R); House: (33 D, 22 R). 

Special Elections: Alaska At-Large (08/16/2022), New York’s 23^rd (08/23/2022), Indiana’s 2^nd (11/08/2022).  Democratic-held: New York’s 19^th (08/23/2022).

• The House now has a composition of 220 Democrats to 210 Republicans (with 5 vacancies).  The Senate is comprised of 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans – with Democrats controlling the chamber as the Vice President also serves as the President of the Senate. 

State Legislation Tracking

• Please visit our web-based state legislative tracker here.