Washington Weekly - June 27

This Week:

The House and Senate are in recess.

Federal:

Appropriations:  With Congress breaking for the July 4^th holiday, both chambers continued their work on discretionary spending for the FY2024 budget.  Since House appropriators were attempting to mirror FY2022 spending levels, despite the debt limit deal with the White House, a friction point was anticipated with their colleagues in the Senate.  In the end, the two chambers were not far off from each other.  The House allocated $1.47 trillion, and the Senate allocated $1.59 trillion (which mirrored the debt limit deal). 

Energy & Water: The House appropriations subcommittee responsible for energy and water took some steps to rescind parts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including taking back $4.5 billion that was allocated for rebates on the purchase of electric appliances and stoves. It also takes back $5.6 billion in unallocated funds that were included in the IRA and bars DOE from using funds to enforce energy standards on gas appliances.

Other Areas of Note: House appropriators carved out $10.2 billion from the IRS and rescinds funds from the IRA to convert federal facilities into “green” buildings.  There will be much to work out before Congress’ August recess, including key legislation like the Farm Bill, the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), 2017 GOP tax extenders, and several other legislative proposals. 

Politics:

SCOTUS: On Monday, the Supreme Court effectively allowed Louisiana’s Congressional map to be redrawn as it may violate the Voting Rights Act and a second minority-majority district will have to be added.  This follows a similar ruling concerning Alabama’s Congressional map.  It later followed up with a separate ruling regarding North Carolina, stating that state courts do not have “free reign” to rejects state legislative maps, while at the same time, state legislators do not protection from oversight from state courts to produce fair maps and that federal courts can intervene as needed to protect voter rights.  Depending on how Republican state legislators formulate new districts, it could potentially switch two House seats in Louisiana and Alabama from the Republican to Democratic column, or at least make those districts highly competitive.  There are additional suits still pending in other states that could result in similar outcomes at the end of the Supreme Court’s current session and improve Democrats’ chances in 2024. 

Montana: Former Navy SEAL and business owner Tim Sheehy announced his candidacy for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Jon Tester (D).  The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is excited about his chances and current NRSC Chair, Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) has already endorsed Sheehy for the seat.  Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), who lost to Sen. Tester in 2018, plans to announce his campaign soon.

Utah: Over the weekend, Celeste Maloy, a former staffer in Rep. Chris Stewart’s office, received the Utah GOP nod to be the nominee to succeed him in the September Special Election Primary.  If no other candidate can obtain 7,000 signatures to get on the ballot, she will be the Republican nominee and likely the next Congresswoman representing Utah’s 4^th District.   

President Biden Job Approval (RCP Average): 42% Approve – 54% Disapprove. The House currently has a composition of 222 Republicans to 212 Democrats. The Senate is comprised of 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans. Special Elections: Democratic: (RI-1 Primary: 9/5/2023; General: 11/7/2023).  Republican: (UT-2 Primary: 9/5/2023; General: 11/21/2023). Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-2) will resign on September 15, 2023.