Mike & Co. – Last week, legislators in both the House and the Senate proposed regulation in the political intelligence industry to increase the transparency of the relationship between Wall Street and Washington. In an election where campaign finance and Wall Street issues have been salient themes, the bill and the candidates’ positions on it could turn out to be …
Mike & Co. – Now that Senate Banking Chair Richard Shelby has beaten back his primary challenge, there are signs of life on the Committee. The first nominations to get votes in over a year have cleared and there is talk once again of a Shelby 2.0 financial regulatory package. Meanwhile, the House has …
Mike & Co. — If voters are uncertain and uneasy about the state of and short-term prospects for the economy, they are in good company. Surveying the indicators, the Federal Reserve voted yesterday to recalibrate before resuming its planned rate increases. Its announcement reduced from four to two the number of such increases it …
Mike & Co. — House and Senate leaders are pursuing different legislative strategies as Congress continues to make progress on a fiscal year 2017 budget for the U.S. government. One chamber is processing down the good governance path of regular order, with Appropriations subcommittee hearings by the dozens already held and a date certain for …
Mike & Co. — Yesterday, House Ways and Means chair Kevin Brady released a “budget savings package designed to cut taxes.” Brady’s gambit reflects the growing buyers remorse regarding the omnibus agreement within the Freedom Caucus. Hard liners have objected to the spending levels set in the Obama-Boehner deal; this package is meant to buy …
Mike & Co. — It may feel like Michigan-morning-after but by dint of Mississippi, HRC padded her delegate lead last night. On Monday, President Obama held a financial regulatory summit in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Joined by the heads of the Fed, the FDIC, and the CFPB, Obama declared “I want to …
Mike & Co. — Tomorrow’s Michigan primary election may end up being “yugge” if it seriously opens up the possibility that Trump can put the state in play in November — “A normal Republican cannot think of bringing in Michigan,” said Trump — nothing any other GOP presidential candidate could do, now, or for the …
Mike & Co. — The February jobs report came out this morning better than expected. Once again, the US economy maintained strong job growth without wage gains. Wages fell 0.1 percent in February, but 242,000 positions were added to the economy, marking 72 months of uninterrupted job gains – the longest streak on record. Additionally, …
Mike & Co. — In half an hour, the BLS jobs report for February is due to be released. If you’d like an update or have any questions, please let me know. Meanwhile, amid the most fractious campaign in recent history comes an initiative in Congress that sounds, well, incongruous with the cacophany. A broad …
Mike & Co. — I hope everyone’s had a chance to reflect on the magnitude of Tuesday’s hard fought primary wins — with gratitude to those who toiled in the field. On Sunday night, the campaign debate turns to Flint, Michigan — to the town and the issues it has come to symbolize. The town’s …
