Will former Vice President Joe Biden prevail in his quest to become president, or does President Trump once again defy conventional wisdom as he did in 2016? Do Democrats attain majority status in both chambers of Congress, or will Republicans maintain a Senate firewall? What lies ahead with regard to fiscal year 2021 … Continue Reading
Deemed essential during the coronavirus in every state with regulated cannabis in some form speaks volumes with how impactful this industry has become on a national level and how powerful it could be in the upcoming election. With eleven states and the District of Columbia that have legalized recreational cannabis or adult-use and 33 states … Continue Reading
While COVID-19 infections continue to rise globally and transatlantic governments are responding accordingly, the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) resumed negotiations over terms for its relationship, post Brexit. Late last week, the EU’s investment screening regulation entered into force; the bloc continues to move forward in its process to approve an EU Global … Continue Reading
What is the fate of the next COVID relief bill, in a Trump or Biden Administration? What would a change in the Senate majority mean under a Republican or Democratic administration? What is the outlook on the US economy, infrastructure development, tax reform and other critical issues in 2021 from a former Speaker of the … Continue Reading
Several high-level officials from the United States (US) were in Europe this past week, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Collectively, they focused on the Brexit talks, strengthening economic relations, 5G infrastructure, energy and transatlantic security, as well as Hizballah. The United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) continued their discussions on Britain’s future … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 1:15 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT has lunch with the Secretary of State | Private Dining Room VPOTUS’ Schedule* 1:30 p.m. EDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT leads a Governors’ video teleconference on COVID-19 … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 11:20 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY visit Saint John Paul II National Shrine | Washington, D.C. 12:15 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT signs an Executive Order to Advance International … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 10:30 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT meets with the Attorney General | Oval Office 11:00 a.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT hosts a video teleconference with governors, law enforcement, and national security officials on … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 12:30 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart Washington, D.C., en route to Kennedy Space Center, FL 3:15 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY participate in a … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Congress Begins Evaluating FY 2018 Transportation Appropriations This week, the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will hold hearings on FY 2018 appropriations for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will testify on Tuesday at the Senate Subcommittee hearing and on … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity President to Highlight Infrastructure Initiative This Week President Trump will hold several events this week intended to increase support for his Infrastructure Initiative presumably by providing more details about the proposal. On Monday, the President will make an announcement at the White House with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity President’s Budget Expected this Week President Trump is expected to release his FY 2018 budget this week, and transportation stakeholders are eager to see whether the full budget includes cuts to transportation programs with bipartisan Congressional support that were included in the President’s “Skinny Budget” released in March. In particular, the Skinny Budget … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week is Infrastructure Week May 15 – 19 is Infrastructure Week, with numerous events being held in Washington D.C. and around the country in an effort to increase support for investing in the country’s infrastructure. Infrastructure Week’s kickoff event will be held the morning of Monday, May 15, at the U.S. Chamber … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Mulvaney: Infrastructure Bill Might Include $200 Billion in Direct Spending Last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney said that the Administration’s proposed FY 2018 budget could include $200 billion for infrastructure with the understanding that it would be leveraged at a 5-to-1 ratio to spur more than $1 … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Infrastructure Bill Could be Packaged with Tax Reform There has been considerable discussion on the Hill and in the Trump Administration about the prospects of combining a large-scale infrastructure bill with comprehensive tax reform. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin recently met with the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Administration Indicates Turn to Tax Reform after Healthcare Fails, Potentially Moving Up Focus on Infrastructure The Trump Administration has indicated it will now turn to a comprehensive tax reform effort, as the House Republican’s healthcare reform proposal failed last week. The high-profile American Health Care Act (AHCA) failure showed starkly the divisions within … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity President Releases “Skinny Budget” On March 16, the Administration released the President’s “Skinny Budget.” As is typical with a budget outline provided by a new President, the request is very high level and does not include nearly the detail of a full budget proposal. The Administration has said it will release its full … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Transportation Stakeholders Hopeful for More Information This Week As the Trump Administration and Congress continue to develop a large-scale infrastructure proposal, transportation stakeholders are hopeful they will get additional information this week. The President’s ‘Skinny Budget” is expected to be released on Thursday, March 16. While it is unclear how much detail will … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Secretary Chao Discusses Infrastructure Priorities as Administration Begins to Release More Details As the Trump Administration and Congress continue to develop a large-scale infrastructure proposal, the Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary, Elaine Chao, discussed the Administration’s priorities. Speaking to the National Governors Association last week, Secretary Chao acknowledged challenges in passing the $1 … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity President Trump Expected to Discuss Infrastructure in Coming Weeks The President is expected to release additional information on his infrastructure agenda in the coming weeks. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the President will discuss infrastructure in his address to Congress on Tuesday. Additionally, he noted that more information will be included … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Transportation Committee to Begin Holding FAA Hearings The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee will begin examining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization this week, with the first of five expected hearings on the issue. The first hearing, titled “Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: State of American Aviation Manufacturing.” The witnesses … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Congress Begins to Evaluate Infrastructure Needs, Senate EPW to Hold Hearing this Week The Trump Administration has provided few specifics on its trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal, and it has become increasingly clear that Congress will not act on a broad infrastructure bill in the first 100 days of the new administration. Recently, House Speaker … Continue Reading
Squire Patton Boggs’ State Attorneys General Practice Group is comprised of lawyers who have served at senior levels in state AG offices around the country and whose practices focus, to one degree or another, on representing clients before these increasingly assertive and powerful, yet often overlooked, government agencies, as explained in detail here. In these … Continue Reading
The U.S. Congress will be in session again this week, primarily focusing on advancing a Continuing Resolution to fund the U.S. Government beyond 9 December. Last week, the Senate passed the Iran Sanctions Extension Act (H.R. 6269) by a vote of 99-0 on 1 December, sending the measure to President Obama’s desk. This week, the … Continue Reading
