Ideological Opposition and a Curious Quorum Conundrum Bedevil EXIM (July 6)

Update 284 — Ideological Opposition and a Curious Quorum Conundrum Bedevil EXIM One of the most glaring examples of the feckless approach of the Trump administration to running the federal government is its approach to the Export-Import Bank. A late convert to the value of the Bank, Trump’s mix of active efforts to undermine the …

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A Tree Falls in Queens (June 27)

Update 282: A Tree Falls in Queens: House Leader Crowley’s Loss Shocks Party In a surprise on the order of then-House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor’s primary defeat in 2014, Rep. Joseph Crowley, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus was defeated by a first-time candidate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in yesterday’s New York District 14 primary. Ocasio-Cortez …

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Regular Disorder & Policymaking (June 22)

Update 281: Regular Disorder & Policymaking; Appropriations Panel Weighs Rough Riders FY 2019 is turning into yet another novel year for the budget as the Republican majority continues with its fiscal ineptitude.  The 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act increased all discretionary spending caps, allowing appropriators to begin to draft spending bills without a formal budget resolution. In …

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Progeny of S. 2155 Proliferate (June 20)

Update 280: Progeny of S. 2155 Proliferate; Hensarling’s HFSC on a Deregulatory Mission After S. 2155, this year’s wide-ranging banking bill, was signed into law last month, House Financial Services (HFSC) Chair Rep. Jeb Hensarling—perhaps emboldened by the wide margins by which S. 2155 passed—has continued his crusade against the United States’ financial regulatory regime.    …

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Much Ado About the Fed (June 15)

Update 279: Much Ado About the Fed From Systemic Risks To Interest Rates The Federal Reserve made news this week in the usual way, with another interest rate hike, and also in less visible but important ways. Today, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) — of which the Fed is a key member — met …

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Bank to the Future or Going Postal? (May 31)

Update 275 – Bank to the Future or Going Postal? S. 2755 and Postal Banking’s Promise and Pitfalls Last month, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand introduced S. 2755, the Postal Banking Act.   The bill would establish retail banking services at every U.S. post office and authorize the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to offer checking and savings accounts, small-dollar loans, …

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