If it appears that these updates are becoming more similar lately, don’t be alarmed. Over the last few weeks, there have not been any dramatic or significant changes to Congress’ top priority and goal. It’s all health care, all the time. The issue has been reported by a number of publications around town… If you aren’t talking health care, then you aren’t in the spotlight. And that isn’t changing any time soon.
While health care is consuming all of the spare air in DC, there actually is other work being done. Both chambers continue to push forward in an effort to complete the remaining FY10 appropriations bills before the current Continuing Resolution expires at the end of the month. As previously mentioned, the House has completed all of its versions of the spending measures, but the Senate has just recently passed the halfway point. Add to that the process of conference committees, and you see that Congress is about to be up against the wall again very quickly. The question is starting to be discussed about whether they will pass another CR in hopes of completing all of the work, or decide to put together an omnibus or mini-bus to complete it in one swoop. We’ll see.
Little to no movement has been made concerning Kerry-Boxer/Waxman-Markey. Questions continue to arise around Capitol Hill about specifics of the bill, reported deals and impending deals… in short, there is an abundance of speculation that will likely remain until later this month when the Senate EPW hearings begin and some of those questions start to get answered. Otherwise, feel free to speculate.
