Mike & Co. — For the first time in five years, Congress and the administration came to an agreement last month on the federal budget and the debt limit. They managed to do this without serious risk of a government shutdown or default. In fact, with the government now funded throughSeptember 30, 2016, there’s practically no chance …
Mike & Co. — After the GOP captured the Senate in the midterm elections, the main question in the financial regulatory world as 2015 began was whether Congress would rollback key parts of Dodd-Frank Act (DFA) as the GOP-controlled House had been voting to do over the previous four years. How did the two sides …
Mike & Co. — House and Senate budget negotiators said tonight they are near final terms on text of legislation covering the FY 2016 budget, the extenders, and more. Before midnight, they hope they can release the draft bill, negotiated quietly but relentlessly for five days now, and proceed to votes on Thursday. More on the main terms of …
Mike & Co. — Congressional negotiators appear near a bipartisan deal on a year-end spending and tax package tonight that would increase domestic and military funding, lift the ban on crude oil exports and extend several tax breaks for businesses and individuals. The omnibus negotiations have been going on around the clock almost without pause since Friday but every passing …
Mike & Co. – The annual session-end crunch is on in Congress, with several big-ticket items under negotiation. As predictable as this yearly jam is, the outcomes are not at this stage. Congress is searching for just the right mix of provisions and bills until a permutation that can guarantee passage is found. Until then, …
Mike & Co. — Most of the activity on Capital Hill this week is focused on the FY 2016 budget, but it has become so rider-ridden that few expect it to be competed by the Friday deadline for passage. Instead it is becoming likely that Congress will adopt a short-term continuing resolution that will push votes on …
Senior Senate Finance and House Ways and Means staff were at the negotiating table much of this weekend, working on a growing tax extenders-plus package now rumored to cost in the $700-800 billion over ten-year ballpark. The package began with the Senate Finance bill reported in July extending or making permanent the 50-odd tax breaks known as …
Mike & Co. — The November jobs report (200,000-plus net jobs added) is another key green light to a Fed primed to lift rates in two weeks. FWIW, reported from Shelby last night re talks with Tester on Shelby 2.0: “We’ve been talking even tonight — we’re trying to see if we can work out …
Mike & Co. — Below, a closer look at some of the many distinctive features of the Highway Trust Fund reauthorization that is likely to be voted on in the House today and the Senate next week, focusing on the offset provisions. Also note the coda on the Zadroga saga. Best, Dana Section by Section …
Mike & Co. — The holiday season ends December 16, apparently. On that day, almost all now agree, the seven-year national zero-interest rate season will end. It is as baked in as the sun in the morning — barring calamity in the November jobs report, of course. All year long Senate Banking Chair Shelby has …
