Stay In the Know
Our team is here to make navigating government easier for you. Every month, the G2G staff compiles and synthesizes the big government news, and distills it into the high-level, hard-hitting information you need. These summaries make it easier to find and understand the policy changes and legislative updates that impact you and your goals.
August 8, 2022
The Senate just passed the Inflation Reduction Act on a party line vote on August 7, a bold measure to address climate change, corporate taxation, and health care. It is a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package that includes everything from electric vehicle tax credits to clean energy manufacturing to investments in environmental justice, a new 15% minimum tax on the income large corporations report to shareholders and a new 1% excise tax on companies’ stock buybacks, and extension of the enhanced federal premium subsidies for Obamacare and new Medicare power to negotiate prescription drug pricing. Also, the Senate released draft appropriations legislation for FY2023 on July 28, however, no Republicans were included in the process, so they are likely to change in the final negotiations with the House at the end of the year. See details in our report and please let me know any questions.
June 28, 2022
While June 24 marked a historic day with the Supreme Court ruling that the nearly 50-year old Roe v. Wade decision was unconstitutional, other events are shaping Washington, D.C. this summer. The November 8 elections are a big factor as the pundits predict the House to flip to Republican control and possibly the senate as well. And while all agree the recent Supreme Court decisions on the second amendment as well as abortion will impact the elections, no one is sure how as both sides are mobilizing for a big turnout. Meanwhile, the House passed the ARPA-H authorization bill and both chambers passed the most significant gun safety legislation in a generation that is bipartisan and a response to the Robb Elementary School shooting and several other mass shootings. President Biden signed this Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law on June 25. In addition, gas prices and inflation continue to be top concerns and President Biden responded by asking Congress to authorize a gas tax holiday this summer, which was immediately rejected by many Republicans. Finally, the House and Senate National Defense Authorization Act and all the House appropriations bills moved through the markup process with floor activity planned for July. The Senate is expected to start subcommittee markups before the August recess. See details in our report.
May 31, 2022
The past few weeks have been among the most disturbing in recent years, raising renewed concerns about how to address mass casualty shootings. Several efforts are underway in Congress, however, partisanship remains a major barrier despite national polling indicating broad support for some gun control measures. Inflation is also top of mind these days. Gas and food prices are soaring, hitting Americans on a daily basis, and the baby formula supplies are far from pre-pandemic levels. Congress returns from the annual Memorial Day recess on June 7th and will work on nomination votes and legislation addressing the health of veterans exposed to burn pits, the annual defense authorization, and the appropriations funding levels for FY2023.