Washington Weekly - May 18

This Week:  

The House and Senate are in session.     

Federal:  

The Big Meeting, Part 2:  Last week, President Biden met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-CA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to hold high level, principal discussions on the debt ceiling.  While all agreed to meet again last Friday, negotiations at the staff level were proceeding and all decided to delay the next meeting and met again on Tuesday.   

On the Table: Currently, negotiations are taking place on four main areas to find a deal that Republicans and Democrats can live with to increase the debt ceiling and stave off an anticipated default in early June.  As Rep. Garrett Graves (R-LA), one of Speaker McCarthy’s closest allies outlined, the points that could get a deal done are permitting reform, budget spending caps, SNAP (food stamp) work requirements, and rescinding unspent COVID funds.  The permitting reform bill put forward by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has already received support from the White House and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, so this may be the easiest out of the four to agree on.  Budget spending caps have been proposed by House Republicans, reverting to FY2022 discretionary spending levels, then allowing for a 1 percent increase each year for the next decade.  The Biden Administration may be willing to support this, but not for the entire period, so there is some room here for an agreement.  SNAP work requirements for those 50-56 to work at least 20 hours a week may have some support, and rescinding previously allocated COVID funding is “on the table,” according to the White House.  The heaviest lift will be any cuts to last year’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).  This is a no-go for the Administration, as well as Congressional Democrats.   

ASA in DC:  

This week, ASA Vice President of Advocacy Steve Rossi was part of a Inflation Reduction Act panel discussion at the PHCC Legislative Fly-In in Washington, DC.  In addition, he was on Capitol Hill to have discussions on several industry-related issues.      
 
Politics: 

A Quick Look at 2024: The 2024 Senate picture is starting to take shape as we get closer to Memorial Day. West Virginia: Sen. Joe Manchin has yet to declare his intentions.   So far, Gov. Jim Justice and Rep. Alex Mooney have already announced their campaigns for Senate.  In a recent co/efficient poll, Justice was leading Mooney 45-17.  Texas: Rep. Collin Allred (D) announced his campaign to challenge Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.  Congressman Allred (a former Baylor and Tennessee Titan’s star) provides a high-level, credible candidate in a difficult race in Texas for Democrats. Maryland: With the announcement that Sen. Ben Cardin (D) will retire at the end of his term and that former GOP Gov. Larry Hogan will take a pass on the race, an intense Democratic primary is starting to form.  Rep. David Trone has announced his campaign, with Reps. Jamie Raskin and John Sarbanes deciding soon.  Nevada: In what is expected to be another competitive race for the Senate in Nevada, former state assemblyman Jim Marchant has announced his campaign to challenge Sen. Jacky Rosen.   

President Biden Job Approval (RCP Average): 43% Approve – 53% Disapprove. The House currently has a composition of 222 Republicans to 213 Democrats. The Senate is comprised of 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) will retire from the House on June 1 (RI-1 Primary: 9/5/2023; General 11/7/2023).