Category: Policy Updates/Issue News
Policy Updates and Issue News September 2021
Washington Overview Government Shutdown Avoided On Thursday September 30th Congress passed a continuing resolution extending government funding until early December, narrowly avoiding a potentially catastrophic government shutdown during a pandemic. Earlier in the week, Democrats had attempted to move forward the continuing resolution along with an increase in the debt limit, a law which caps … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News September 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News August 2021
Washington Overview House Passes Budget Resolution Earlier this week, the House briefly returned from its long August recess to pass a resolution authorizing up to $3.5 trillion in spending through budget reconciliation, a process which will allow Democrats to pass the bill without needing any Republican support in the Senate. While the resolution ultimately passed … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News August 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News July 2021
Washington Overview Bipartisan Infrastructure Package Moves Forward: Infrastructure has been the top legislative priority in Washington for the past few months with the odds that a bill will pass having looked at times unlikely. However, this week Democratic and Republican Senators finally made concrete progress on a bipartisan infrastructure package. For background, Democrats in Congress … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News July 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News June 2021
Washington Overview Infrastructure Debates Continue President Biden’s push for a large infrastructure package has taken significant steps forward in recent weeks. Democrats are now pursuing a two-track plan with one small bipartisan bill to be passed through regular order (where 60 votes are required in the Senate) and one larger bill to be passed through … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News June 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News May 2021
Washington Overview Infrastructure Debates Continue Since President Biden announced his American Jobs Plan and American Family Plan in April, two large spending bills meant to address issues ranging from traditional infrastructure to child poverty, Washington has been gripped by public and private discussions of the packages. In recent weeks the White House has hosted meetings … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News May 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News April 2021
Washington Overview April has been a busy month in Washington, as Democrats have turned their attention away from their emergency COVID-19 bill, the American Rescue Plan, to new legislative priorities addressing infrastructure and families. Earlier this month, President Biden released details for his infrastructure package, the American Jobs Plan, which has already begun to change … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News April 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News March 2021
Washington Overview With major COVID-19 relief in the rear-view mirror, Congress and the Biden administration are turning their focus toward other major priorities, including infrastructure, and a slew of smaller miscellaneous bills. Infrastructure As part of the ‘recovery’ aspect of President Biden’s campaign promise to “Build Back Better” the White House and Congress are turning … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News March 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News February 2021
Washington Overview With the time and attention consuming impeachment trial of former President Trump now over, President Biden and Congressional Democrats are turning towards completing cabinet confirmations and moving forward their agenda. COVID-19 Relief The Democratic proposal for another round of COVID-19 relief is soon to face critical votes in both the House and Senate … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News February 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News January 2021
Washington Overview President Biden’s Team is Coming Together Following his inauguration on the 20th, President Biden’s cabinet team has been rapidly coming together. So far top-level picks such as Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have been confirmed, … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News January 2021”
Policy Updates and Issue News December 2020
Washington Overview Coronavirus Relief and Government Funding Following a week-long delay, on Sunday December 27th President Trump signed an omnibus bill into law which included Coronavirus Relief Funds and the annual bill which funds the government. In the coronavirus relief package highlights include a new round of $600 stimulus checks, an eleven-week extension of expanded … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News December 2020”
Policy Updates and Issue News November 2020
Washington Overview As Washington gets back to work following the election, key issues to watch for in the lame duck period before the new Congress is sworn in in January include coronavirus stimulus debates, government funding deadlines, and jockeying for leadership positions in the next Congress. As well, key picks for the Biden cabinet have … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News November 2020”
Policy Updates and Issue News October 2020
Heading into the Election Next Tuesday, November 3rd, Americans will head to the polls to vote in an election unlike any other in recent memory. Or perhaps, it’s more accurate to say that on November 3rd the election will come to a close, as 75 million Americans have already voted as of the writing of … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News October 2020”
Policy Updates and Issue News September 2020
Washington Overview First Presidential Debate On September 29th, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden clashed in the first of the 2020 Presidential Election debates moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News and hosted by Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The debate was one of the most … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News September 2020”
Policy Updates and Issue News August 2020
OVERVIEW: Pandemic, Politics. Presidential Conventions Democratic Convention From August 17-20 the Democratic Party held its national convention, and formally nominated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for their national ticket. During the event, the party highlighted voices from all sides, including progressive Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and Republican turned Biden-supporter former Governor of Ohio John … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News August 2020”
Policy Updates and Issue News July 2020
National Grange Submits Platform Statements In preparation for the public policy platforms to be considered at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the National Grange submitted policy statements to the members of both parties’ platform committees. The Grange emphasized several of its top policy priorities including emergency access to rural broadband connectivity and access to … Continue reading “Policy Updates and Issue News July 2020”
