rollcall--2020-11-20--Crapo poised for starring role in economic, health care policy

The most powerful committee in Congress hasn ’ t had a top Republican not named Charles E. Grassley or Orrin @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s about to change in January when a Harvard Law School-trained attorney @ @ @ @ @ to take the Senate Finance gavel — or the ranking member slot in an evenly @ @ @ @ @ the Georgia runoffs .
Either way , Michael D. Crapo will be at the center @ @ @ @ @ policymaking in a pivotal year , as a new administration takes office amid the devastation @ @ @ @ @ ’ s expansive portfolio makes it ground zero for President-elect Joe Biden ’ s agenda @ @ @ @ @ , climate change , health insurance expansion , drug pricing limits and sifting through the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s trade wars .
Crapo , who declined to be interviewed with his committee @ @ @ @ @ until January , will be the GOP ’ s gatekeeper for progressive plans hatched by @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .

The most powerful committee in Congress hasn’t had a top Republican not named Charles E. Grassley or Orrin G. Hatch in two decades.
That’s about to change in January when a Harvard Law School-trained attorney from Idaho Falls is expected to take the Senate Finance gavel — or the ranking member slot in an evenly divided Senate, depending on the Georgia runoffs.
Either way, Michael D. Crapo will be at the center of economic and health care policymaking in a pivotal year, as a new administration takes office amid the devastation of COVID-19.
Senate Finance’s expansive portfolio makes it ground zero for President-elect Joe Biden’s agenda on economic stimulus, infrastructure, climate change, health insurance expansion, drug pricing limits and sifting through the wreckage of President Donald Trump’s trade wars.
Crapo, who declined to be interviewed with his committee status up in the air until January, will be the GOP’s gatekeeper for progressive plans hatched by a Biden administration and House Democrats.


rollcall--2020-11-19--The Transition: Trump team briefs senators, but not Biden team, on pandemic

Despite the victory of Joe Biden in the presidential election , President Donald Trump is intensifying his far-fetched efforts to @ @ @ @ @ states Biden won , an operation overseen by his attorney , Rudy Giuliani .
As @ @ @ @ @ s business community is stepping up pressure on Trump to begin the formal transition process @ @ @ @ @ , the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable , all traditional GOP allies @ @ @ @ @ time for the transition to start .
But the General Services Administration has yet to @ @ @ @ @ .
The consequences affect a wide swath of public concerns , from national security to @ @ @ @ @ has just logged its 250,000th death in the United States .

Jason Dick, Jinitzail Hernández, Niels Lesniewski, and Kate Ackley

Despite the victory of Joe Biden in the presidential election, President Donald Trump is intensifying his far-fetched efforts to overturn the results in key states Biden won, an operation overseen by his attorney, Rudy Giuliani.
As this happens, America’s business community is stepping up pressure on Trump to begin the formal transition process. The Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable, all traditional GOP allies, say it’s time for the transition to start.
But the General Services Administration has yet to allow that process to begin.
The consequences affect a wide swath of public concerns, from national security to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has just logged its 250,000th death in the United States.


rollcall--2020-11-19--Census Bureau finds processing problems amid deadline sprint

The Census Bureau acknowledged Thursday it ran into `` anomalies '' while processing data from this year 's decennial count , potentially jeopardizing President Donald Trump ’ s effort to exclude undocumented immigrants from census figures used to divvy up congressional seats .
Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said the agency ran into problems trying to finish tabulating census figures in time to be sent to the White House by a Dec. 31 deadline .
Democrats in Congress and outside experts warned that finishing an accurate count may not be possible this year — or before Trump leaves office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anomalies have been discovered , ” Dillingham said in a statement .
“ These types of processing anomalies have occurred in past censuses .
I am directing the Census Bureau to utilize all resources available to resolve this as expeditiously as possible .
As it has been all along , our goal remains an accurate and statistically sound Census.
” The agency originally planned on having five months to tabulate and check the data , but after the administration cut short the count , only two and a half months remained .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday about the nature of any delays or whether it would still deliver data by the end of the year .
House Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney accused the agency of keeping Democrats in the dark on census problems .
In a letter sent to Dillingham on Thursday night , she cited documents leaked to the committee earlier this year that said the compressed schedule could undercut accuracy of the count .

The Census Bureau acknowledged Thursday it ran into "anomalies" while processing data from this year's decennial count, potentially jeopardizing President Donald Trump’s effort to exclude undocumented immigrants from census figures used to divvy up congressional seats.
Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham said the agency ran into problems trying to finish tabulating census figures in time to be sent to the White House by a Dec. 31 deadline. Democrats in Congress and outside experts warned that finishing an accurate count may not be possible this year — or before Trump leaves office.
“During post-collection processing, certain processing anomalies have been discovered,” Dillingham said in a statement. “These types of processing anomalies have occurred in past censuses. I am directing the Census Bureau to utilize all resources available to resolve this as expeditiously as possible. As it has been all along, our goal remains an accurate and statistically sound Census.”
The agency originally planned on having five months to tabulate and check the data, but after the administration cut short the count, only two and a half months remained. The Census Bureau did not respond to questions Thursday about the nature of any delays or whether it would still deliver data by the end of the year.
House Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney accused the agency of keeping Democrats in the dark on census problems. In a letter sent to Dillingham on Thursday night, she cited documents leaked to the committee earlier this year that said the compressed schedule could undercut accuracy of the count.


rollcall--2020-11-19--Front-line workers in Capitol keep getting COVID-19

Front-line workers on Capitol Hill are continuing to contract COVID-19 .
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , 153 @ @ @ @ @ positive or are presumed positive for COVID-19 , according to a Democratic aide for the @ @ @ @ @ cumulative total , as of Nov. 18 , includes 59 employees from the Capitol Police @ @ @ @ @ of the Capitol and 37 contractors working construction in the Cannon House Office Building .
@ @ @ @ @ 30 cases since Roll Call reported on these numbers on Oct. 6 .
Since that @ @ @ @ @ Police employees , 15 more Architect of the Capitol employees and two more contractors have @ @ @ @ @ has permeated all of the congressional community , including lawmakers and staffers .
Just this @ @ @ @ @ Pro Tempore Charles E. Grassley , R-Iowa , revealed he tested positive for the disease @ @ @ @ @ of Washington and Doug Lamborn of Colorado both said on Wednesday that they tested positive @ @ @

Front-line workers on Capitol Hill are continuing to contract COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, 153 legislative branch employees have tested positive or are presumed positive for COVID-19, according to a Democratic aide for the House Administration Committee.
This cumulative total, as of Nov. 18, includes 59 employees from the Capitol Police, 57 from the Architect of the Capitol and 37 contractors working construction in the Cannon House Office Building.
This marks a jump of 30 cases since Roll Call reported on these numbers on Oct. 6. Since that date, 13 more Capitol Police employees, 15 more Architect of the Capitol employees and two more contractors have tested positive.
The coronavirus has permeated all of the congressional community, including lawmakers and staffers. Just this week, 87-year-old Senate President Pro Tempore Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, revealed he tested positive for the disease. Republican Reps. Dan Newhouse of Washington and Doug Lamborn of Colorado both said on Wednesday that they tested positive for COVID-19.


rollcall--2020-11-19--Nanoinfluencers: The next regulatory frontier

Nanoinfluencers — social media influencers with only several thousand followers — are a new and unregulated part of political campaign @ @ @ @ @ and campaigns look at them as an organic and seemingly personal form of advertising .
@ @ @ @ @ murky space .
The Federal Election Commission has not put forth rules for nanoinfluencers to @ @ @ @ @ content — and it does not appear this new form of political advertising will be @ @ @ @ @ CQ Roll Call 's interview with Katie Joseff , a senior researcher on propaganda at @ @ @ @ @ and Mae Karwowski , CEO of Obviously , a nanoinfluencer marketing company , to learn @ @ @ @ @ what these experts think about potential regulations .

Nanoinfluencers — social media influencers with only several thousand followers — are a new and unregulated part of political campaign strategies.
Some marketing companies and campaigns look at them as an organic and seemingly personal form of advertising.
And it could be a murky space. The Federal Election Commission has not put forth rules for nanoinfluencers to disclose political relationships in their content — and it does not appear this new form of political advertising will be regulated anytime soon.
Watch CQ Roll Call's interview with Katie Joseff, a senior researcher on propaganda at the University of Texas, and Mae Karwowski, CEO of Obviously, a nanoinfluencer marketing company, to learn more about nanoinfluencer strategies and what these experts think about potential regulations.
[Election misinformation: Experts analyze Facebook and Twitter labels]


rollcall--2020-11-19--Photo of the day: Sweating the election

Photo of the day: Sweating the election

It may have been a cold morning in D.C. , but it was warm inside the Republican National Committee headquarters @ @ @ @ @ .
President Donald Trump 's attorney , Rudy Giuliani , held a news conference on @ @ @ @ @ election results .
And during the event — which was held in a crowded , @ @ @ @ @ what appeared to be hair dye to drip down the sides of Giuliani 's face @

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
It may have been a cold morning in D.C., but it was warm inside the Republican National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill on Thursday.
President Donald Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, held a news conference on lawsuits surrounding the 2020 presidential election results. And during the event — which was held in a crowded, warm room — sweat caused what appeared to be hair dye to drip down the sides of Giuliani's face.


rollcall--2020-11-19--At the Races: Ready for Zoomsgiving?

At the Races: Ready for Zoomsgiving?

Welcome to At the Races !
Each week we ’ ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team .
Know someone who ’ d like to get this newsletter ?
They can subscribe here .
Editor ’ s note : At the Races will not come out next week on Thanksgiving Day .
We ’ ll be back Dec. 3 .
Lawmakers and newly elected members of Congress , after learning the ways of Capitol Hill , are heading off for a Thanksgiving recess that seems more of a quarantine/convalescence , unfortunately , for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who picked most of their leaders this week virtually because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic , are looking ahead to the 117th Congress and the 2022 cycle , but they ’ ve got little in the way of 2020 races to feel thankful for : No House Republicans have lost yet .
Utah Rep. Ben McAdams was among the latest to concede ; he lost to former NFL player Burgess Owens , who continues the GOP ’ s streak of defeating incumbent Democrats with candidates who are minorities and women .
Still , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held 21 of the 30 districts that President Donald Trump won in 2016 .
They lost seven and are on a path to lose two more .
We ’ re watching for possible voluntary exits too , as President-elect Joe Biden begins to staff up .
The caucus is already losing one member in a safe Democratic seat , Louisiana ’ s Cedric L. Richmond , to the Biden administration .
And perhaps more will follow .
Reps. Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio may be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Agriculture , respectively .
Special elections , anyone ?

Kate Ackley, Stephanie Akin, and Bridget Bowman

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we’ll bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here.
Editor’s note: At the Races will not come out next week on Thanksgiving Day. We’ll be back Dec. 3.
Lawmakers and newly elected members of Congress, after learning the ways of Capitol Hill, are heading off for a Thanksgiving recess that seems more of a quarantine/convalescence, unfortunately, for a number of them.
House Democrats, who picked most of their leaders this week virtually because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are looking ahead to the 117th Congress and the 2022 cycle, but they’ve got little in the way of 2020 races to feel thankful for: No House Republicans have lost yet. Utah Rep. Ben McAdams was among the latest to concede; he lost to former NFL player Burgess Owens, who continues the GOP’s streak of defeating incumbent Democrats with candidates who are minorities and women.
Still, in the latest count, House Democrats held 21 of the 30 districts that President Donald Trump won in 2016. They lost seven and are on a path to lose two more. We’re watching for possible voluntary exits too, as President-elect Joe Biden begins to staff up. The caucus is already losing one member in a safe Democratic seat, Louisiana’s Cedric L. Richmond, to the Biden administration. And perhaps more will follow. Reps. Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio may be in the running for the top spots at Interior and Agriculture, respectively. Special elections, anyone?


rollcall--2020-11-19--House Democrats elect Aguilar, Allred in contested leadership elections

House Democrats on Thursday elected California Rep. Pete Aguilar to serve as vice chairman of their caucus for the 117th @ @ @ @ @ highest-ranking Latino on the emerging leadership team .
Aguilar beat Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly for @ @ @ @ @ in leadership by a vote of 148-82 .
In the other contested race Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ won a three-way race for caucus leadership representative , a position reserved for members who @ @ @ @ @ less .
Aguilar was making his second bid for the vice chair position , after @ @ @ @ @ M. Clark two years ago .
Clark decided against a second term for the next @ @ @ @ @ assistant speaker , a race she won Wednesday .

House Democrats on Thursday elected California Rep. Pete Aguilar to serve as vice chairman of their caucus for the 117th Congress, making him the highest-ranking Latino on the emerging leadership team.
Aguilar beat Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly for the No. 6 slot in leadership by a vote of 148-82.
In the other contested race Thursday, Texas Rep. Colin Allred narrowly won a three-way race for caucus leadership representative, a position reserved for members who have served five terms or less.
Aguilar was making his second bid for the vice chair position, after losing to Massachusetts Rep. Katherine M. Clark two years ago. Clark decided against a second term for the next Congress and ran instead for assistant speaker, a race she won Wednesday.
[Katherine Clark wins assistant speaker race against David Cicilline]


rollcall--2020-11-19--Transition aide’s report on antitrust urges Biden action

The incoming Biden administration should pursue legislation to increase competition and rein in dominant companies across the economy , according to a report by antitrust experts including Bill Baer , a former Justice Department official and a member of President-elect Joe Biden ’ s transition team .
The report said legislation is needed to clarify or overrule “ flawed ” court decisions that constrain antitrust regulators and to address emerging competition problems .
It was released Thursday by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth , a nonprofit think tank focused on economic justice issues .
The report also calls for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for antitrust enforcement at the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and to establish a new White House Competition Office within the National Economic Council .
The effort comes amid calls on Capitol Hill for an antitrust overhaul , particularly amid concern about the market power of big tech companies like Alphabet Inc. ’ s Google and Facebook Inc. “ The administration should seize this moment of both bipartisan and unambiguous public support for stronger antitrust enforcement to seek legislative action that would restore the core functions of the antitrust law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who worked in the Obama administration , is a visiting fellow in government studies at the Brookings Institution .
He is on the Biden transition team for the Federal Trade Commission .

The incoming Biden administration should pursue legislation to increase competition and rein in dominant companies across the economy, according to a report by antitrust experts including Bill Baer, a former Justice Department official and a member of President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team.
The report said legislation is needed to clarify or overrule “flawed” court decisions that constrain antitrust regulators and to address emerging competition problems. It was released Thursday by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, a nonprofit think tank focused on economic justice issues.
The report also calls for $600 million in increased annual appropriations for antitrust enforcement at the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and to establish a new White House Competition Office within the National Economic Council. The effort comes amid calls on Capitol Hill for an antitrust overhaul, particularly amid concern about the market power of big tech companies like Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc.
“The administration should seize this moment of both bipartisan and unambiguous public support for stronger antitrust enforcement to seek legislative action that would restore the core functions of the antitrust law,” the report said.
Baer, who worked in the Obama administration, is a visiting fellow in government studies at the Brookings Institution. He is on the Biden transition team for the Federal Trade Commission.


rollcall--2020-11-19--Majority Whip James E. Clyburn: “The pursuit of a more perfect union”

Mary C. Curtis speaks with Democratic Rep. James E. Clyburn , the majority whip , about his role in President-elect @ @ @ @ @ where the country is and where it needs to go .
• ‘ Republicans often @ @ @ @ @ run from poverty ’ • Breonna Taylor , Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the future of @ @ @ @ @ Graves

Mary C. Curtis, Joanne Levine, and Evan Campbell

Mary C. Curtis speaks with Democratic Rep. James E. Clyburn, the majority whip, about his role in President-elect Joe Biden's win, where the country is and where it needs to go.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-11-20--The Transition: It’s been a long week

The Transition: It’s been a long week

We 're delving into President Donald Trump 's latest moves to block President-elect Joe Biden from moving forward , why @ @ @ @ @ be thorny and how a big infrastructure bill could be on the table .
CQ @ @ @ @ @ hosts this special episode of the Political Theater podcast with contributions from Niels Lesniewski , @ @ @ @ @ .
• The Transition : Trump team briefs senators , but not Biden team , @ @ @ @ @ : The ‘ traffic jam ’ gets worse every day the White House delays • @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon adds to postelection confusion

Jim Saksa, Joanne Levine, and Evan Campbell

We're delving into President Donald Trump's latest moves to block President-elect Joe Biden from moving forward, why foreign policy toward Europe may be thorny and how a big infrastructure bill could be on the table.
CQ Roll Call's Jim Saksa hosts this special episode of the Political Theater podcast with contributions from Niels Lesniewski, Rachel Oswald and Jessica Wehrman.
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-11-20--Pressure for ‘targeted’ coronavirus relief bill grows as time dwindles

House lawmakers left Washington on Friday for Thanksgiving recess with no sign of progress on a new coronavirus relief package .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and President-elect Joe Biden were meeting in Wilmington , Del.
, later Friday to talk about their agenda .
Publicly , their position has been that Republicans ought to drop their opposition to a $ 2 trillion-plus aid bill in the lame-duck session .
But with pressure coming from all sides , even some top Democrats admit a smaller Band-Aid that could tide over lawmakers until after Biden takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing .
`` I just hope that we can get agreement .
It may not be everything that everybody wants but at least if we can get some significant relief to people , '' House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md.
, told CQ Roll Call on Friday .
`` And then we 're going to be here next year .
If we need to do other things , we 'll do other things.
” Democrats had hoped that pandemic aid would be discussed during a meeting Thursday held by staff of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t happen , but hopefully it will , ” Pelosi told reporters Friday at a news conference .

House lawmakers left Washington on Friday for Thanksgiving recess with no sign of progress on a new coronavirus relief package.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and President-elect Joe Biden were meeting in Wilmington, Del., later Friday to talk about their agenda. Publicly, their position has been that Republicans ought to drop their opposition to a $2 trillion-plus aid bill in the lame-duck session.
But with pressure coming from all sides, even some top Democrats admit a smaller Band-Aid that could tide over lawmakers until after Biden takes office Jan. 20 would be better than nothing.
"I just hope that we can get agreement. It may not be everything that everybody wants but at least if we can get some significant relief to people," House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., told CQ Roll Call on Friday. "And then we're going to be here next year. If we need to do other things, we'll do other things.”
Democrats had hoped that pandemic aid would be discussed during a meeting Thursday held by staff of top congressional leaders. “That didn’t happen, but hopefully it will,” Pelosi told reporters Friday at a news conference.


rollcall--2020-11-20--Democrats: Trump WHO funding hold skirted federal budget law

House Democrats on Friday accused the White House of abusing its powers in withholding funding from the World Health Organization , likening the move to a freeze that administration officials put on military aid to Ukraine last year .
Several House committees released documents obtained from the Office of Management and Budget , showing that the budget office put a temporary hold on funds destined for the WHO beginning Aug. 19 , 2020 .
“ The documents obtained by our Committees show OMB took legally binding steps to cater to the President ’ s dangerous and misguided whims , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and circumvent Congress — the same tactic used to illegally withhold aid to Ukraine and which ultimately led to President Trump ’ s impeachment , ” read a statement from House Budget Chairman John Yarmuth , D-Ky. , Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey , D-N.Y. , and Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney , D-N.Y. A senior administration official disputed the charge , saying the administration had “ made crystal clear that we were no longer going to be providing funding for WHO because of their corruption and incompetence in tackling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on May 18 criticizing the organization for a “ failed response ” to the COVID-19 outbreak and the WHO ’ s “ alarming lack of independence from the People ’ s Republic of China .
”

House Democrats on Friday accused the White House of abusing its powers in withholding funding from the World Health Organization, likening the move to a freeze that administration officials put on military aid to Ukraine last year.
Several House committees released documents obtained from the Office of Management and Budget, showing that the budget office put a temporary hold on funds destined for the WHO beginning Aug. 19, 2020.
“The documents obtained by our Committees show OMB took legally binding steps to cater to the President’s dangerous and misguided whims, using an apportionment footnote to freeze expiring funds and circumvent Congress — the same tactic used to illegally withhold aid to Ukraine and which ultimately led to President Trump’s impeachment,” read a statement from House Budget Chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey, D-N.Y., and Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y.
A senior administration official disputed the charge, saying the administration had “made crystal clear that we were no longer going to be providing funding for WHO because of their corruption and incompetence in tackling the coronavirus.”
President Donald Trump wrote to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on May 18 criticizing the organization for a “failed response” to the COVID-19 outbreak and the WHO’s “alarming lack of independence from the People’s Republic of China.”


rollcall--2020-11-20--Expert tells Congress to watch for setbacks for Afghan women post-troop withdrawal

Rep. Susan A. Davis , D-Calif. , asked about the future of women in Afghanistan during a House Armed Services @ @ @ @ @ involvement in the country on Friday .
Watch the video to see what Dr. Seth @ @ @ @ @ for Strategic and International Studies , projects .
The Pentagon earlier this week announced a @ @ @ @ @ the country before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in .
[ Analysis : Congress unlikely @ @ @ @ @ hands on Afghan plan ]

Rep. Susan A. Davis, D-Calif., asked about the future of women in Afghanistan during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on U.S. military involvement in the country on Friday.
Watch the video to see what Dr. Seth Jones, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, projects.
The Pentagon earlier this week announced a reduction of U.S. troops in the country before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.
[Analysis: Congress unlikely to tie Trump’s hands on Afghan plan]


rollcall--2020-11-20--Mask heckling, Bono and ‘My Cousin Vinny’ — Congressional Hits and Misses

While Sens .
Sherrod Brown and Dan Sullivan sniped at each other over mask etiquette , House Majority Leader Steny @ @ @ @ @ House chamber to compliment Rep. David Trone ’ s face mask .
Meanwhile , House @ @ @ @ @ greatest musician of all time , and Rudy Giuliani sweated out a new defense of @ @ @ @ @ the classic legal film “ My Cousin Vinny.
” [ More Hits and Misses — @ @ @ @ @ ’ and new members arrive on the Hill ]

While Sens. Sherrod Brown and Dan Sullivan sniped at each other over mask etiquette, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer took to the House chamber to compliment Rep. David Trone’s face mask.
Meanwhile, House Democrats held elections on the greatest musician of all time, and Rudy Giuliani sweated out a new defense of President Donald Trump, quoting the classic legal film “My Cousin Vinny.”
[ More Hits and Misses — ‘An absurd circus,’ and new members arrive on the Hill ]


rollcall--2020-11-20--Photos of the week ending Nov. 20, 2020

Photos of the week ending Nov. 20, 2020

President Donald Trump 's challenges to the presidential election results got heated this week , while the House held its @ @ @ @ @ , Congress wrapped up its business before heading home for Thanksgiving , but not before @ @ @ @ @ a little bit like Christmas .

Caroline Brehman, Tom Williams, and Bill Clark

President Donald Trump's challenges to the presidential election results got heated this week, while the House held its own leadership elections.
Meanwhile, Congress wrapped up its business before heading home for Thanksgiving, but not before the Capitol started to look a little bit like Christmas.
Here's the week in photos:
A Trump supporter yells at counterprotesters outside the U.S. Supreme Court building during the Million MAGA March in Washington on Saturday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., arrives for the House Republican leadership elections at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Vice president-elect Kamala Harris, D-Calif., departs from a meeting in a Senate Intelligence Committee room in the Hart Senate Office Building on Tuesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks during a news conference after the House Republican leadership election on Tuesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
A full recycling bin sits outside the empty office of Rep. Peter J. Visclosky, D-Ind., in the Rayburn House Office Building on Wednesday. Visclosky did not seek reelection in 2020. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
The 2020 Capitol Christmas ornament sits for sale at the Senate Gift Shop in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington on Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., races to catch the Senate subway as she heads to the Capitol for a vote on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows talks with reporters after a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in the Capitol on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Construction workers continue building the inaugural platform on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, in preparation for the Jan. 20, 2021, inauguration ceremony. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
President Donald Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, holds a news conference on lawsuits surrounding the 2020 presidential election results. During the event — which was held in a crowded, warm room — sweat caused what appeared to be hair dye to drip down the sides of Giuliani's face. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Rep.-elect Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference outside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington with other Democratic members of Congress to push President-elect Joe Biden to appoint a corporate-free cabinet and address the climate threat on Thursday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is unloaded on the West Front of the Capitol on Friday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)


rollcall--2020-11-20--Wasserman Schultz makes climate pitch in Appropriations gavel bid

Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz released a 10-point climate change `` action plan '' Friday as she prepares for the final days of campaigning to succeed retiring House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey , D-N.Y .
The four-page plan is broken down into proposals to boost spending to address environmental disparities that impact minorities ; clean energy and transportation ; sustainable infrastructure ; disaster mitigation ; international climate resilience ; preparing the U.S. military ; funding for agricultural and science programs ; and government subsidies for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the outer continental shelf .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to work together with the committees of jurisdiction to double down on combating climate change , ” Wasserman Schultz wrote in an introduction .
“ Substantial federal investments are desperately needed to expedite the transition to clean energy and blunt the impacts already afflicting our communities — especially communities of color.
” Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio are also running for the slot .
Wasserman Schultz is a much more junior member of the panel waging something of a dark horse campaign , but she 's an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support from disparate factions within the caucus .
House Democrats are expected to vote the week of Nov. 30 to determine which of the three will become the next chairwoman of a committee that determines where about $ 1.4 trillion in federal funds are spent each year .

Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz released a 10-point climate change "action plan" Friday as she prepares for the final days of campaigning to succeed retiring House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey, D-N.Y.
The four-page plan is broken down into proposals to boost spending to address environmental disparities that impact minorities; clean energy and transportation; sustainable infrastructure; disaster mitigation; international climate resilience; preparing the U.S. military; funding for agricultural and science programs; and government subsidies for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the outer continental shelf.
“It is time for the Appropriations Committee, to work together with the committees of jurisdiction to double down on combating climate change,” Wasserman Schultz wrote in an introduction. “Substantial federal investments are desperately needed to expedite the transition to clean energy and blunt the impacts already afflicting our communities — especially communities of color.”
Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Marcy Kaptur of Ohio are also running for the slot. Wasserman Schultz is a much more junior member of the panel waging something of a dark horse campaign, but she's an accomplished party fundraiser and has rounded up support from disparate factions within the caucus.
House Democrats are expected to vote the week of Nov. 30 to determine which of the three will become the next chairwoman of a committee that determines where about $1.4 trillion in federal funds are spent each year.


rollcall--2020-11-20--Hoyer: Earmarks are likely coming back next year

House Democratic leaders are proceeding with plans to bring back earmarks for the 117th Congress , according to Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer .
Hoyer , D-Md.
, said in an interview Friday that sometime after the Appropriations Committee ’ s new chairwoman is elected the week of Nov. 30 , she will begin soliciting House lawmakers to “ ask for congressional initiatives for their districts and their states.
” The three candidates to replace retiring House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey , D-N.Y. , are all on board with restoring “ congressionally directed spending , ” as it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ohio and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida had previously endorsed the return of earmarks .
Connecticut ’ s Rosa DeLauro had hesitated but now “ unequivocally ” backs restoring line items for members ’ districts after further conversations , an aide said .
Hoyer said all three support , with leadership ’ s backing , transparency measures similar to those in place a decade ago before the practice was banned entirely .
That includes making a project ’ s requestor publicly available as well as the justification for spending taxpayer dollars on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which provisions constitute member-requested items .

House Democratic leaders are proceeding with plans to bring back earmarks for the 117th Congress, according to Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer.
Hoyer, D-Md., said in an interview Friday that sometime after the Appropriations Committee’s new chairwoman is elected the week of Nov. 30, she will begin soliciting House lawmakers to “ask for congressional initiatives for their districts and their states.”
The three candidates to replace retiring House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey, D-N.Y., are all on board with restoring “congressionally directed spending,” as it has come to be known.
Marcy Kaptur of Ohio and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida had previously endorsed the return of earmarks. Connecticut’s Rosa DeLauro had hesitated but now “unequivocally” backs restoring line items for members’ districts after further conversations, an aide said.
Hoyer said all three support, with leadership’s backing, transparency measures similar to those in place a decade ago before the practice was banned entirely. That includes making a project’s requestor publicly available as well as the justification for spending taxpayer dollars on it, and clearly noting in legislation which provisions constitute member-requested items.


rollcall--2020-11-20--Rep. Lance Gooden received over $280,000 from his campaign since 2018

Rep. Lance Gooden reimbursed himself over $ 280,000 in campaign funds since 2018 , a CQ Roll Call review of Federal Election Commission records shows .
The Texas Republican lists payments from his Lance Gooden for Congress Committee to himself for travel , phone , meal expenses among some of the 68 transactions over a three-year period .
Many of these expenditures—40 to be exact—were labeled as “ expense reimbursement.
” Included in the expenditures was a $ 7,000 purchase on Dec. 31 , 2019 described as for “ materials , ” as was a $ 6,000 transaction on Sep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 10,000 on Feb. 27 , 2019 .
Members are prohibited under federal law and House rules from using campaign funds for personal use and must be able to verify that campaign resources have not been misused .
The Federal Election Commission states that if a candidate “ can reasonably show that the expenses at issue resulted from campaign or officeholder activities , the Commission will not consider the use to be personal use.
” Gooden , who easily won reelection to his second term in November , has also spent campaign money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New Orleans , La.
, and Las Vegas , Nev .
The lawmaker spent $ 445 on staff meals at the Kornhaus Cafe in Bern , Switzerland in August of 2019 .

Rep. Lance Gooden reimbursed himself over $280,000 in campaign funds since 2018, a CQ Roll Call review of Federal Election Commission records shows.
The Texas Republican lists payments from his Lance Gooden for Congress Committee to himself for travel, phone, meal expenses among some of the 68 transactions over a three-year period. Many of these expenditures—40 to be exact—were labeled as “expense reimbursement.” Included in the expenditures was a $7,000 purchase on Dec. 31, 2019 described as for “materials,” as was a $6,000 transaction on Sep. 27, 2019 and one for over $10,000 on Feb. 27, 2019.
Members are prohibited under federal law and House rules from using campaign funds for personal use and must be able to verify that campaign resources have not been misused. The Federal Election Commission states that if a candidate “can reasonably show that the expenses at issue resulted from campaign or officeholder activities, the Commission will not consider the use to be personal use.”
Gooden, who easily won reelection to his second term in November, has also spent campaign money abroad, and in the popular destinations of New Orleans, La., and Las Vegas, Nev.
The lawmaker spent $445 on staff meals at the Kornhaus Cafe in Bern, Switzerland in August of 2019.


rollcall--2020-11-20--Terrell to lead Biden’s legislative affairs shop

President-elect Joe Biden has picked a Senate and White House veteran with experience inside and outside government to be the @ @ @ @ @ Congress .
Louisa Terrell , who has been overseeing legislative affairs for the transition team @ @ @ @ @ director of legislative affairs office at the White House when Biden takes office in January @ @ @ @ @ experience in technology , including in senior public policy roles at Yahoo !
and Facebook @ @ @ @ @ been deputy general counsel and the lead on public affairs at the management consulting firm @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Hill experience includes stints as the first chief of staff to Sen. Cory Booker @ @ @ @ @ won a 2013 special election .
She also previously worked as deputy chief of staff @ @ @ @ @ and was a special assistant to President Barack Obama for legislative affairs .
Within government @ @ @ @ @ as an adviser to then-Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler .

President-elect Joe Biden has picked a Senate and White House veteran with experience inside and outside government to be the administration's chief liaison with Congress.
Louisa Terrell, who has been overseeing legislative affairs for the transition team, will formally become the director of legislative affairs office at the White House when Biden takes office in January.
Terrell has significant private-sector experience in technology, including in senior public policy roles at Yahoo! and Facebook. She has most recently been deputy general counsel and the lead on public affairs at the management consulting firm McKinsey and Company.
Her Capitol Hill experience includes stints as the first chief of staff to Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., after he won a 2013 special election. She also previously worked as deputy chief of staff to Biden in the Senate and was a special assistant to President Barack Obama for legislative affairs.
Within government, Terrell has also worked as an adviser to then-Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler.


rollcall--2020-11-21--Spat over veterans health care emergency funds stalls spending deal

A dispute over veterans health care funding is holding up bipartisan negotiations on the framework for an omnibus spending package that would avoid a partial government shutdown next month , according to sources familiar with the talks .
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. , is insisting that $ 12.5 billion for veterans ’ medical care should not be classified as emergency spending that is exempt from budget caps , these people said .
The White House has sent mixed signals , but administration officials do n't appear ready to formally back the position of House Democratic and Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be exempt .
These sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations .
A two-year budget deal in 2019 imposed limits on discretionary spending , and exempting the veterans funding from those limits would free up more money for other nondefense programs .
Overall nondefense accounts would see increases greater than 2 percent on average for the budget year that began Oct. 1 , as opposed to a less than 0.5 percent boost without the veterans health care carve-out .
The snag over a funding classification dashed hopes of reaching a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the 12 appropriations bills needed for a year-end omnibus package .
Current stopgap funding is set to expire on Dec. 11 , and congressional leaders had hoped appropriators would be able to start hashing out compromises as soon as next week after receiving joint subcommittee allocations to work from .

A dispute over veterans health care funding is holding up bipartisan negotiations on the framework for an omnibus spending package that would avoid a partial government shutdown next month, according to sources familiar with the talks.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is insisting that $12.5 billion for veterans’ medical care should not be classified as emergency spending that is exempt from budget caps, these people said.
The White House has sent mixed signals, but administration officials don't appear ready to formally back the position of House Democratic and Senate GOP leaders that the veterans money should be exempt. These sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
A two-year budget deal in 2019 imposed limits on discretionary spending, and exempting the veterans funding from those limits would free up more money for other nondefense programs. Overall nondefense accounts would see increases greater than 2 percent on average for the budget year that began Oct. 1, as opposed to a less than 0.5 percent boost without the veterans health care carve-out.
The snag over a funding classification dashed hopes of reaching a bipartisan agreement this week on spending allocations for the 12 appropriations bills needed for a year-end omnibus package. Current stopgap funding is set to expire on Dec. 11, and congressional leaders had hoped appropriators would be able to start hashing out compromises as soon as next week after receiving joint subcommittee allocations to work from.


rollcall--2020-11-23--McAdams and Shalala, in defeat, illustrate Democrats’ challenge

ANALYSIS — Elected in the 2018 Democratic wave by a mere 694 votes over a Republican incumbent , Ben McAdams always faced an uphill climb to reelection in his Salt Lake City district .
To buttress his case , he established a reputation from the start for bucking his party more than almost anyone else in the House .
Donna E. Shalala rode the anti-Trump wave of two years ago too , winning a Miami seat held by Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen , who was retiring after nearly three decades .
Shalala took a different approach than McAdams , sticking with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party-splitting votes she ’ s participated in .
Both lost on Nov. 3 , and their plights show that for lawmakers skillful enough to win seats in districts that lean toward the opposite party , there ’ s no foolproof strategy to repeat the feat .
Loyalty to fellow partisans might yield more help from the party apparatus and from Democratic donors , but it opens up other political vulnerabilities .
Tack to the center and an opponent will still hang your party affiliation around your neck .
For House Democrats looking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how to govern and how to run for office is no closer , as they regroup for January with a majority that could be as small as four seats , and with at least nine colleagues departing at year ’ s end .
Both McAdams and Shalala are leaving convinced that the way forward for Democrats is the path they each chose as legislators .
“ I think that the caucus needs to decide if they want to be a pragmatic and effective majority that works with the Biden administration to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be a loud and vocal minority ?
” says McAdams .
“ They will make that decision now and over the next two years , but it will be cemented in the 2022 election .
”

ANALYSIS — Elected in the 2018 Democratic wave by a mere 694 votes over a Republican incumbent, Ben McAdams always faced an uphill climb to reelection in his Salt Lake City district. To buttress his case, he established a reputation from the start for bucking his party more than almost anyone else in the House.
Donna E. Shalala rode the anti-Trump wave of two years ago too, winning a Miami seat held by Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who was retiring after nearly three decades. Shalala took a different approach than McAdams, sticking with fellow Democrats on 627 of the 631 party-splitting votes she’s participated in.
Both lost on Nov. 3, and their plights show that for lawmakers skillful enough to win seats in districts that lean toward the opposite party, there’s no foolproof strategy to repeat the feat. Loyalty to fellow partisans might yield more help from the party apparatus and from Democratic donors, but it opens up other political vulnerabilities. Tack to the center and an opponent will still hang your party affiliation around your neck.
For House Democrats looking to strengthen their position in Congress, consensus on how to govern and how to run for office is no closer, as they regroup for January with a majority that could be as small as four seats, and with at least nine colleagues departing at year’s end.
Both McAdams and Shalala are leaving convinced that the way forward for Democrats is the path they each chose as legislators. “I think that the caucus needs to decide if they want to be a pragmatic and effective majority that works with the Biden administration to move forward centrist policies, or do they want to be a loud and vocal minority?” says McAdams. “They will make that decision now and over the next two years, but it will be cemented in the 2022 election.”


rollcall--2020-11-23--Neal eyes massive coronavirus relief, climate and infrastructure package

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal ’ s attitude toward legislating under a Democratic-led White House might aptly be described as “ never let a crisis go to waste.
” The Massachusetts Democrat wants to take a page from his party ’ s 2009 playbook , when the Obama administration took office amid the wreckage of the financial crisis and enacted a nearly $ 800 billion stimulus that went as far afield as clean energy and infrastructure spending .
President-elect Joe Biden oversaw that effort as vice president , and Neal sees potential to reprise something like it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do think with a President Biden that stimulus linked to climate change and linked to infrastructure go hand in hand , ” Neal said in an interview .
“ Why do n't we wrap them into one big bill , and given the Fed ’ s determination to keep interest rates low , we can do some borrowing.
” Based on proposals House Democrats have put forth since this summer , the cost could go north of $ 4 trillion over a decade .
That includes a $ 2.4 trillion coronavirus aid package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate measure .

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard E. Neal’s attitude toward legislating under a Democratic-led White House might aptly be described as “never let a crisis go to waste.”
The Massachusetts Democrat wants to take a page from his party’s 2009 playbook, when the Obama administration took office amid the wreckage of the financial crisis and enacted a nearly $800 billion stimulus that went as far afield as clean energy and infrastructure spending.
President-elect Joe Biden oversaw that effort as vice president, and Neal sees potential to reprise something like it on a grander scale.
“I do think with a President Biden that stimulus linked to climate change and linked to infrastructure go hand in hand,” Neal said in an interview. “Why don't we wrap them into one big bill, and given the Fed’s determination to keep interest rates low, we can do some borrowing.”
Based on proposals House Democrats have put forth since this summer, the cost could go north of $4 trillion over a decade. That includes a $2.4 trillion coronavirus aid package and a $1.5 trillion infrastructure and climate measure.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Biden’s infrastructure challenge: Finding common ground

Within days of the 2020 presidential election , President-elect Joe Biden received a blunt reminder of the challenges ahead when @ @ @ @ @ to symbolize the nation ’ s outdated infrastructure caught fire .
Long before the Nov. @ @ @ @ @ on the Brent Spence Bridge , which links Cincinnati and northern Kentucky , that bridge @ @ @ @ @ Barack Obama and President Donald Trump as a visible reminder of the nation ’ s @ @ @ @ @ vowed to fix it ; neither got it done .
Now it ’ s up @ @ @ @ @ like his predecessors , has listed infrastructure as a top priority in his administration .
@ @ @ @ @ the same hurdles that Trump and Obama found ultimately insurmountable .
[ Biden will support @ @ @ @ @ GOP ? ]

He has an easy enough vehicle to start with: Congress in October punted on a new highway bill, opting instead to extend the 2015 surface transportation law by a year, to Oct. 1, 2021.
If Biden wants to go big on infrastructure investment, he has a key ally in House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore., who, like Biden, sees infrastructure as inherently linked to climate change.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that though Senate control won’t be settled until after the two Georgia runoff elections in January, Biden appears likely to face a Republican-majority Senate loath to give him a policy win — even on an issue on which they’d both like to see progress.
How to pay
And then there’s the problem that has stymied administration after administration: How to pay for a massive investment.
Congress has not raised the highway- and transit-funding gas tax, fixed at 18.3 cents a gallon for gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon for diesel and kerosene, since 1993. It’s long been a political barrier, even as groups as diverse as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, the American Public Transportation Association and the American Trucking Associations have called for an increase, as has DeFazio. In the meantime, the federal government has transferred at least $140 billion from its general funds to offset the resulting shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund that pays for those highway and transit projects, according to a May 2020 report by the Tax Policy Center.


rollcall--2020-11-23--In Georgia Senate runoff, Loeffler targets Warnock sermons

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler took a break from tweeting her outrage at the impeachment of President Donald Trump last January to make a Martin Luther King Day speech at the Atlanta church where the civil rights leader once preached .
It was a routine stop for a Georgia politician .
But this time , Loeffler ’ s brief and seemingly inoffensive remarks were imbued with an undercurrent of tension .
The senior pastor , Raphael Warnock , was about to announce a bid for Loeffler ’ s seat .
After Loeffler told the assembled audience of church and community leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church and its leaders , Warnock shot back from the pulpit , decrying , “ People and politicians of every stripe , falling all over themselves to pay tribute , to offer platitudes , to give lip service to Dr .
King . ''
As Warnock , a Democrat , and Loeffler , a Republican , head into one of two Georgia runoff elections that will decide which party has the Senate majority , the subtext on that day has been blasted to the surface , with Warnock ’ s position as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Loeffler and her supporters are mining Warnock ’ s past sermons , writings and personal associations to back up her claim on a campaign website that he is “ the most radical and dangerous politician in America .
”

Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler took a break from tweeting her outrage at the impeachment of President Donald Trump last January to make a Martin Luther King Day speech at the Atlanta church where the civil rights leader once preached.
It was a routine stop for a Georgia politician. But this time, Loeffler’s brief and seemingly inoffensive remarks were imbued with an undercurrent of tension. The senior pastor, Raphael Warnock, was about to announce a bid for Loeffler’s seat.
After Loeffler told the assembled audience of church and community leaders that she admired the “sacred” church and its leaders, Warnock shot back from the pulpit, decrying, “People and politicians of every stripe, falling all over themselves to pay tribute, to offer platitudes, to give lip service to Dr. King."
As Warnock, a Democrat, and Loeffler, a Republican, head into one of two Georgia runoff elections that will decide which party has the Senate majority, the subtext on that day has been blasted to the surface, with Warnock’s position as a Black religious leader playing a central role.
Loeffler and her supporters are mining Warnock’s past sermons, writings and personal associations to back up her claim on a campaign website that he is “the most radical and dangerous politician in America.”


rollcall--2020-11-23--Trump pushes Supreme Court to let him reshape apportionment

President Donald Trump faces what could be his last Supreme Court test in office on Nov. 30 , when his lawyers defend his plan to exclude millions of undocumented immigrants from the congressional apportionment process .
Trump and his allies have argued that including such individuals in census figures used to reallocate congressional seats dilutes the power of voters in states with few undocumented immigrants .
Three panels of federal judges have disagreed , sending the issue to the Supreme Court .
Several complicating factors — the end of Trump ’ s term , the time-sensitive nature of the census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — will make for a fraught set of oral arguments .
Jonathan Turley , a professor at George Washington University Law School , said if justices spend more time on whether the challengers have standing to be in court at all , versus the merits of their arguments , it could suggest whether they ultimately will make a definitive ruling , or punt .
“ This is one of those cases where we will learn a lot in oral argument , ” Turley said , pointing to Chief Justice John Roberts ’ leanings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independence .

President Donald Trump faces what could be his last Supreme Court test in office on Nov. 30, when his lawyers defend his plan to exclude millions of undocumented immigrants from the congressional apportionment process.
Trump and his allies have argued that including such individuals in census figures used to reallocate congressional seats dilutes the power of voters in states with few undocumented immigrants. Three panels of federal judges have disagreed, sending the issue to the Supreme Court.
Several complicating factors — the end of Trump’s term, the time-sensitive nature of the census process, and the high stakes involved — will make for a fraught set of oral arguments.
Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School, said if justices spend more time on whether the challengers have standing to be in court at all, versus the merits of their arguments, it could suggest whether they ultimately will make a definitive ruling, or punt.
“This is one of those cases where we will learn a lot in oral argument,” Turley said, pointing to Chief Justice John Roberts’ leanings to preserve the high court’s independence.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Spending deal by Dec. 11 hinges on Thanksgiving allocation pact

As negotiators race against the clock to write final spending legislation for the current fiscal year , signs of optimism @ @ @ @ @ be reached that would avoid a government shutdown next month .
Top appropriators missed a @ @ @ @ @ reaching a bipartisan framework for a fiscal 2021 omnibus spending package , but talks continued @ @ @ @ @ runs out on Dec. 11 .
If Republicans and Democrats can get an agreement on @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.4 trillion in discretionary spending among the 12 regular appropriations bills before Thanksgiving , @ @ @ @ @ completing an omnibus on time , according to people familiar with the talks .
“ @ @ @ @ @ , ” one former congressional aide said Monday .
“ December 11th is a quick @ @ @ @ @ do it if they get an agreement in the next few days [ on allocations @ @ @ @ @ ’ t happen pre-Thanksgiving , then it will be tough to make that deadline .
@

As negotiators race against the clock to write final spending legislation for the current fiscal year, signs of optimism emerged that a deal can be reached that would avoid a government shutdown next month.
Top appropriators missed a self-imposed deadline last week for reaching a bipartisan framework for a fiscal 2021 omnibus spending package, but talks continued Monday. Current stopgap funding runs out on Dec. 11.
If Republicans and Democrats can get an agreement on how to divvy up about $1.4 trillion in discretionary spending among the 12 regular appropriations bills before Thanksgiving, there is a path to completing an omnibus on time, according to people familiar with the talks.
“I think they get there,” one former congressional aide said Monday. “December 11th is a quick turnaround, but they can do it if they get an agreement in the next few days [on allocations]. If it doesn’t happen pre-Thanksgiving, then it will be tough to make that deadline.”
Congressional aides expressed hope.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Dianne Feinstein will relinquish role as top Democrat on Judiciary Committee

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California stepped aside as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday , opening the high-profile role for a more aggressive or partisan approach as the Senate moves on from President Donald Trump ’ s administration .
Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois has an interest in the job , and said he will seek that role with an eye for oversight of actions that were taken taken by the outgoing Trump administration and a to-do list for `` future progress of our country . ''
He would also keep his position in Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line after Durbin is Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island .
“ I have served on the Committee for 22 years , and I am its most senior member who does not currently serve atop another Senate Committee , ” Durbin said .
“ We have to roll up our sleeves and get to work on undoing the damage of the last four years and protecting fundamental civil and human rights.
” The Judiciary Committee spot would be chairman or ranking member , depending on which party controls the Senate after the runoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate seats on Jan. 5 .
With Biden in the White House , the committee will play a critical role vetting nominees for the federal courts and key Justice Department jobs .

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California stepped aside as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, opening the high-profile role for a more aggressive or partisan approach as the Senate moves on from President Donald Trump’s administration.
Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois has an interest in the job, and said he will seek that role with an eye for oversight of actions that were taken taken by the outgoing Trump administration and a to-do list for "future progress of our country." He would also keep his position in Senate Democratic leadership. The next Democrat in line after Durbin is Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
“I have served on the Committee for 22 years, and I am its most senior member who does not currently serve atop another Senate Committee,” Durbin said. “We have to roll up our sleeves and get to work on undoing the damage of the last four years and protecting fundamental civil and human rights.”
The Judiciary Committee spot would be chairman or ranking member, depending on which party controls the Senate after the runoff elections to fill Georgia’s two Senate seats on Jan. 5.
With Biden in the White House, the committee will play a critical role vetting nominees for the federal courts and key Justice Department jobs.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Biden said to pick Janet Yellen for Treasury amid deep economic slump

President-elect Joe Biden will nominate former Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen for Treasury secretary .
Yellen was the first woman to run the Fed and , if confirmed by the Senate , would make history as the first woman to run the Treasury Department .
The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment , but The Wall Street Journal , New York Times and other publications reported the choice .
Yellen is an economist who would immediately face the challenge of guiding the nation ’ s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic .
And , depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Senate runoff elections in January , she may have to do so working with a GOP-controlled Senate that could oppose additional stimulus measures .
On the other hand , some economists have predicted a robust economic recovery once the pandemic has been brought under control .
With recent vaccine announcements generating hope that most economic activity could return to normal next summer , Yellen could oversee a major rebound .
Yellen garnered bipartisan Senate support for her nominations to the Fed board in 1994 and 2011 , and for her promotion to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenure on the Fed , she has relationships with senators on both sides of the aisle .
That experience also means she has worked with other nations ’ finance ministers and international trade officials .

President-elect Joe Biden will nominate former Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen for Treasury secretary.
Yellen was the first woman to run the Fed and, if confirmed by the Senate, would make history as the first woman to run the Treasury Department. The Biden transition team did not respond to a request for comment, but The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other publications reported the choice.
Yellen is an economist who would immediately face the challenge of guiding the nation’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. And, depending on the outcome of Georgia’s two Senate runoff elections in January, she may have to do so working with a GOP-controlled Senate that could oppose additional stimulus measures.
On the other hand, some economists have predicted a robust economic recovery once the pandemic has been brought under control. With recent vaccine announcements generating hope that most economic activity could return to normal next summer, Yellen could oversee a major rebound.
Yellen garnered bipartisan Senate support for her nominations to the Fed board in 1994 and 2011, and for her promotion to chairwoman in 2014. Thanks to her tenure on the Fed, she has relationships with senators on both sides of the aisle. That experience also means she has worked with other nations’ finance ministers and international trade officials.


rollcall--2020-11-23--As top U.S. spy chief, Haines will face task of restoring trust

Avril Haines , chosen by President-elect Joe Biden to become the next director of national intelligence , will face the tough job of restoring Americans ' trust in U.S. intelligence agencies , which in the past four years have faced a barrage of false accusations from illegal domestic spying to cooking up intelligence and have seen top officials forced out of office for speaking the truth .
In the four years since President Donald Trump took office , the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has changed hands three times , with four directors overseeing the efforts of 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military departments , with a combined annual budget for fiscal 2020 in excess of $ 85 billion .
If confirmed by the Senate , Haines would become the first woman to hold the office , which was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to avoid the intelligence failures that led to the first massive foreign terrorist assault on U.S. soil .
Haines previously served as deputy director of the CIA and as President Barack Obama 's principal deputy national security adviser .
Haines 's pick was welcomed by several congressional Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faces .

Avril Haines, chosen by President-elect Joe Biden to become the next director of national intelligence, will face the tough job of restoring Americans' trust in U.S. intelligence agencies, which in the past four years have faced a barrage of false accusations from illegal domestic spying to cooking up intelligence and have seen top officials forced out of office for speaking the truth.
In the four years since President Donald Trump took office, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has changed hands three times, with four directors overseeing the efforts of 17 different intelligence agencies spread across civilian and military departments, with a combined annual budget for fiscal 2020 in excess of $85 billion.
If confirmed by the Senate, Haines would become the first woman to hold the office, which was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to avoid the intelligence failures that led to the first massive foreign terrorist assault on U.S. soil.
Haines previously served as deputy director of the CIA and as President Barack Obama's principal deputy national security adviser.
Haines's pick was welcomed by several congressional Democrats, who also noted the challenges she faces.


rollcall--2020-11-23--GM exits Trump fuel efficiency fight, backs electric future

General Motors ’ announcement Monday that it is withdrawing from a Trump administration effort to end California ’ s right to set its own fuel efficiency standards is yet more evidence that the auto industry has begun to accept the inevitability of an electric future and is moving on from a Trump White House .
In a letter Monday to 11 environmental organizations that fought the Trump administration ’ s less stringent fuel efficiency standards , GM CEO Mary Barra said the company agrees with President-elect Joe Biden ’ s plan to expand electric vehicle use and is withdrawing from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decades-old authority to set its own emissions standards .
Barra urged other automakers to follow suit .
“ President-elect Biden recently said , ‘ I believe that we can own the 21st century car market again by moving to electric vehicles.
’ We at General Motors couldn ’ t agree more , ” Barra wrote , adding “ we believe there is now a path to achieve agreement on a national standard and complementary policies to accelerate the electrification of the light-duty transportation sector.
” Barra also spoke Monday with Mary Nichols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board , a Nichols spokesman confirmed .
Barra met with Biden and other business and labor leaders Nov. 16 .
The letter marked a sharp turn for Barra , who privately urged Trump at the beginning of his administration to loosen President Barack Obama ’ s 2012 emissions standards .
Trump obliged , not only initially moving to freeze the standards at 2021 levels but also launching a protracted fight with California , which began setting its own stricter fuel efficiency standards in the 1970s .

General Motors’ announcement Monday that it is withdrawing from a Trump administration effort to end California’s right to set its own fuel efficiency standards is yet more evidence that the auto industry has begun to accept the inevitability of an electric future and is moving on from a Trump White House.
In a letter Monday to 11 environmental organizations that fought the Trump administration’s less stringent fuel efficiency standards, GM CEO Mary Barra said the company agrees with President-elect Joe Biden’s plan to expand electric vehicle use and is withdrawing from a lawsuit aimed at quashing California’s decades-old authority to set its own emissions standards. Barra urged other automakers to follow suit.
“President-elect Biden recently said, ‘I believe that we can own the 21st century car market again by moving to electric vehicles.’ We at General Motors couldn’t agree more,” Barra wrote, adding “we believe there is now a path to achieve agreement on a national standard and complementary policies to accelerate the electrification of the light-duty transportation sector.”
Barra also spoke Monday with Mary Nichols, head of the California Air Resources Board, a Nichols spokesman confirmed. Barra met with Biden and other business and labor leaders Nov. 16.
The letter marked a sharp turn for Barra, who privately urged Trump at the beginning of his administration to loosen President Barack Obama’s 2012 emissions standards. Trump obliged, not only initially moving to freeze the standards at 2021 levels but also launching a protracted fight with California, which began setting its own stricter fuel efficiency standards in the 1970s.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Biden’s foreign policy nominees have long track records

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday chose longtime foreign policy hands known for their steadiness and traditional left-of-center views when he announced nominees to lead the State Department , serve as the ambassador to the United Nations and coordinate national security policy from the White House .
Antony Blinken , whom Biden tapped to serve as secretary of State , is a familiar face on Capitol Hill from his years as staff director on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and multiple appearances testifying before lawmakers in his role as deputy secretary of State during the Obama administration .
Blinken has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going back to his years working in the Senate for Biden , as a national security adviser to the then-vice president and then on the 2020 presidential campaign .
Biden also announced that Jake Sullivan would serve as his national security adviser and that he will nominate Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as ambassador to the United Nations .
The president-elect said the U.N. ambassador would have a seat on the Cabinet , as did the Trump administration ’ s first U.N. envoy , Nikki Haley .
Blinken was closely involved with the Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a host of Middle East policies dealing with Iran , the Islamic State terrorist group , and the Arab Spring democracy movements and uprisings of the past decade .
Initial reactions from Democratic lawmakers to his nomination reflected a strong sense of relief at looking forward to non-headline-grabbing , competent leadership at the State Department after years of divisive actions by President Donald Trump ’ s two secretaries of state , Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo .

President-elect Joe Biden on Monday chose longtime foreign policy hands known for their steadiness and traditional left-of-center views when he announced nominees to lead the State Department, serve as the ambassador to the United Nations and coordinate national security policy from the White House.
Antony Blinken, whom Biden tapped to serve as secretary of State, is a familiar face on Capitol Hill from his years as staff director on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and multiple appearances testifying before lawmakers in his role as deputy secretary of State during the Obama administration. Blinken has been Biden’s closest foreign policy adviser going back to his years working in the Senate for Biden, as a national security adviser to the then-vice president and then on the 2020 presidential campaign.
Biden also announced that Jake Sullivan would serve as his national security adviser and that he will nominate Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as ambassador to the United Nations. The president-elect said the U.N. ambassador would have a seat on the Cabinet, as did the Trump administration’s first U.N. envoy, Nikki Haley.
Blinken was closely involved with the Obama administration’s development and implementation of a host of Middle East policies dealing with Iran, the Islamic State terrorist group, and the Arab Spring democracy movements and uprisings of the past decade.
Initial reactions from Democratic lawmakers to his nomination reflected a strong sense of relief at looking forward to non-headline-grabbing, competent leadership at the State Department after years of divisive actions by President Donald Trump’s two secretaries of state, Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Photo of the day: Another week, another protest

Nearly three weeks have passed since Election Day and election-related protests are still scattered around D.C. Members of the group @ @ @ @ @ bags to the General Services Administration in Washington on Monday .
The group said it @ @ @ @ @ Murphy for blocking the incoming Biden administration 's access to funds , officials , agencies @ @ @ @ @ needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic .

(Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Nearly three weeks have passed since Election Day and election-related protests are still scattered around D.C.
Members of the group Refuse Fascism delivered fake body bags to the General Services Administration in Washington on Monday. The group said it was protesting GSA Administrator Emily Murphy for blocking the incoming Biden administration's access to funds, officials, agencies, equipment and office space needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Biden picks Alejandro Mayorkas to head Homeland Security

President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Cuban refugee Alejandro Mayorkas to be his Homeland Security secretary , his transition team announced Monday , tapping the first Latino and immigrant to serve in that role .
Mayorkas , a former federal prosecutor who served as DHS deputy secretary in the Obama administration from 2013 to 2016 , would oversee a sprawling department that in recent years has experienced frequent turnover and low morale .
DHS includes three immigration agencies along with the Transportation Security Agency , the Federal Emergency Management Agency , the Secret Service and several other agencies .
During his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as director of the department ’ s U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services from 2009 to 2013 , Mayorkas served as the architect of the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals program , or DACA , that has allowed immigrants who came to the U.S. unlawfully as children to live and work in the country without fear of deportation .
If his nomination is approved by the Senate , Mayorkas would be expected to follow Biden ’ s plans to reverse numerous hard-line policies laid out by the current Trump administration , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions on immigration alone , according to a recent report by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute .
Among other things , Mayorkas , 60 , would be be tasked with reinstating DACA and terminating the Migrant Protection Protocols program , which frequently is called the “ Remain in Mexico ” policy because it has forced thousands of asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in the United States .

President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Cuban refugee Alejandro Mayorkas to be his Homeland Security secretary, his transition team announced Monday, tapping the first Latino and immigrant to serve in that role.
Mayorkas, a former federal prosecutor who served as DHS deputy secretary in the Obama administration from 2013 to 2016, would oversee a sprawling department that in recent years has experienced frequent turnover and low morale. DHS includes three immigration agencies along with the Transportation Security Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secret Service and several other agencies.
During his time at DHS, where he also served as director of the department’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services from 2009 to 2013, Mayorkas served as the architect of the Deferred Actions for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, that has allowed immigrants who came to the U.S. unlawfully as children to live and work in the country without fear of deportation.
If his nomination is approved by the Senate, Mayorkas would be expected to follow Biden’s plans to reverse numerous hard-line policies laid out by the current Trump administration, which has rolled out more than 400 executive actions on immigration alone, according to a recent report by the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute.
Among other things, Mayorkas, 60, would be be tasked with reinstating DACA and terminating the Migrant Protection Protocols program, which frequently is called the “Remain in Mexico” policy because it has forced thousands of asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are processed in the United States.


rollcall--2020-11-23--Biden picks Kerry for Cabinet-level climate role

President-elect Joe Biden said longtime climate hawk and former diplomat John Kerry will serve in his administration as a key @ @ @ @ @ Kerry will be appointed as special presidential envoy for climate , a role that does @ @ @ @ @ the president-elect ’ s transition team said Monday .
Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris , @ @ @ @ @ , will announce Kerry ’ s position Tuesday , along with a slate of other @ @ @ @ @ to lead the State Department , Alejandro Mayorkas to run the Homeland Security Department and @ @ @ @ @ U.S. ambassador to the United Nations .
The choices of Blinken and Kerry signal a @ @ @ @ @ Biden , who has promised the U.S. will rejoin the Paris climate agreement of 2015 @ @ @ @ @ to the reality that climate change transcends environmental issues and seeps into matters of national @ @ @ @ @

President-elect Joe Biden said longtime climate hawk and former diplomat John Kerry will serve in his administration as a key adviser on climate change.
Kerry will be appointed as special presidential envoy for climate, a role that does not require Senate confirmation, the president-elect’s transition team said Monday.
Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., the vice president-elect, will announce Kerry’s position Tuesday, along with a slate of other nominations, including Antony Blinken to lead the State Department, Alejandro Mayorkas to run the Homeland Security Department and Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The choices of Blinken and Kerry signal a focus on climate change for Biden, who has promised the U.S. will rejoin the Paris climate agreement of 2015, and is a testament to the reality that climate change transcends environmental issues and seeps into matters of national security and international affairs.
[Biden’s infrastructure challenge: Finding common ground]


rollcall--2020-11-23--Opening of 117th Congress will be different due to pandemic

When the 117th Congress convenes in January , COVID-19 precautions will prevent the 435 House members from gathering in the @ @ @ @ @ day festivities of swearing in members and electing the speaker will look a little different @ @ @ @ @ discussing how to carry out the traditions of starting a new Congress while upholding social @ @ @ @ @ , staff and Capitol Hill workers safe .
The Democratic leadership team held a call @ @ @ @ @ procedures and other details for the opening of the 117th Congress in which several options @ @ @ @ @ were made , according to a leadership aide .
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer @ @ @ @ @ to plan for than others , like the speaker 's election .
“ Voting for @ @ @ @ @ , because we can vote the same way we do here , ” the Maryland @ @ @ @ @ Friday .

When the 117th Congress convenes in January, COVID-19 precautions will prevent the 435 House members from gathering in the chamber together, so opening day festivities of swearing in members and electing the speaker will look a little different.
House leaders have begun discussing how to carry out the traditions of starting a new Congress while upholding social distancing practices to keep members, staff and Capitol Hill workers safe.
The Democratic leadership team held a call Thursday night to address voting procedures and other details for the opening of the 117th Congress in which several options were discussed and no decisions were made, according to a leadership aide.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said some things are easier to plan for than others, like the speaker's election.
“Voting for speaker is not a problem, because we can vote the same way we do here,” the Maryland Democrat said in an interview Friday.


The outsider

Adeyemi Ajao talks about how he started a $ 100 million company from a dorm room in Spain , and @ @ @ @ @ Valley , being a Black venture capitalist , and the immigrant experience in tech .
@ @ @ @ @ 2020 ’ s fintech conferences • How Mpesa transformed the world of fintech

Adeyemi Ajao talks about how he started a $100 million company from a dorm room in Spain, and shares his views on Silicon Valley, being a Black venture capitalist, and the immigrant experience in tech.
More podcast content
Show Notes:


rollcall--2020-11-25--Ohio Rep. Fudge, supporters eye Agriculture secretary post

Unions , anti-hunger groups and advocacy groups have launched a letter-writing campaign to support Rep. Marcia L. Fudge for the post of Agriculture secretary in the Biden administration .
Fudge , D-Ohio , was considered a likely contender for the top spot on the House Agriculture Committee after Chairman Collin C. Peterson , D-Minn. , lost his reelection bid on Nov. 3 .
But now the six-term lawmaker ’ s attention is on the post of secretary .
She and her staff have not commented on the committee post , remaining silent even as Reps. David Scott , D-Ga. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their candidacies .
If Fudge is nominated — and confirmed — she would be only the second African American and the first Black woman to lead a department responsible for agriculture , conservation , school meals , food stamps , rural development and agricultural research .
Michael Espy , a House Democrat from Mississippi , made history in 1993 as the first African American to become Agriculture secretary .
Denise Tolliver , Fudge ’ s communications director , said in an email Tuesday that her boss is interested in serving as secretary if @ @ @ @ @

Unions, anti-hunger groups and advocacy groups have launched a letter-writing campaign to support Rep. Marcia L. Fudge for the post of Agriculture secretary in the Biden administration.
Fudge, D-Ohio, was considered a likely contender for the top spot on the House Agriculture Committee after Chairman Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., lost his reelection bid on Nov. 3. But now the six-term lawmaker’s attention is on the post of secretary. She and her staff have not commented on the committee post, remaining silent even as Reps. David Scott, D-Ga., and Jim Costa, D-Calif., declared their candidacies.
[Scott, Costa make bids for Agriculture chairmanship]
If Fudge is nominated — and confirmed — she would be only the second African American and the first Black woman to lead a department responsible for agriculture, conservation, school meals, food stamps, rural development and agricultural research. Michael Espy, a House Democrat from Mississippi, made history in 1993 as the first African American to become Agriculture secretary.
Denise Tolliver, Fudge’s communications director, said in an email Tuesday that her boss is interested in serving as secretary if asked to do so.


rollcall--2020-11-24--Biden Cabinet: 3 big challenges facing the next DNI

Watch as CQ Roll Call 's Gopal Ratnam breaks down some of the most pressing issues that Avril Haines could @ @ @ @ @ the next director of national intelligence .
President-elect Joe Biden said Monday that he would @ @ @ @ @ be the first woman to hold the role .
[ As top U.S. spy chief @ @ @ @ @ of restoring trust ]

Watch as CQ Roll Call's Gopal Ratnam breaks down some of the most pressing issues that Avril Haines could face if confirmed to be the next director of national intelligence.
President-elect Joe Biden said Monday that he would nominate Haines, who would be the first woman to hold the role.
[As top U.S. spy chief, Haines will face task of restoring trust]


rollcall--2020-11-24--Lawmakers a step closer to averting Dec. 11 government shutdown

Top appropriators reached bipartisan agreement Tuesday on a framework for an omnibus spending package that would avoid a partial government shutdown next month .
The compromise forged between the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees sets spending allocations for the dozen bills that fund federal agencies for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 .
A deal on those allocations will allow lawmakers to draft omnibus legislation that is needed by Dec. 11 , when current stopgap funding is set to run dry .
The agreement , which was confirmed by aides familiar with the talks , resolves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up about $ 1.4 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2021 that is allowed under a two-year budget deal .
Details of the actual compromise spending allocations , which are typically kept confidential until legislation is released , were n't immediately available .
The House version of fiscal 2021 spending bills , released in July , and the Senate appropriations measures , released this month , have different allocations .
Democrats opted to put more funding toward the departments of Veterans Affairs , Interior , EPA , Transportation , and Housing and Urban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Defense , Homeland Security , Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers .
Those differences weren ’ t all that great in dollar terms .
And after accounting for spending that is already exempt from budget caps , such as overseas military operations , most agencies are in line for at least small increases over the prior fiscal year ’ s levels .

Top appropriators reached bipartisan agreement Tuesday on a framework for an omnibus spending package that would avoid a partial government shutdown next month.
The compromise forged between the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees sets spending allocations for the dozen bills that fund federal agencies for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1. A deal on those allocations will allow lawmakers to draft omnibus legislation that is needed by Dec. 11, when current stopgap funding is set to run dry.
The agreement, which was confirmed by aides familiar with the talks, resolves a partisan impasse over how to divvy up about $1.4 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2021 that is allowed under a two-year budget deal. Details of the actual compromise spending allocations, which are typically kept confidential until legislation is released, weren't immediately available.
The House version of fiscal 2021 spending bills, released in July, and the Senate appropriations measures, released this month, have different allocations. Democrats opted to put more funding toward the departments of Veterans Affairs, Interior, EPA, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, while Republicans proposed more funding for Defense, Homeland Security, Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Those differences weren’t all that great in dollar terms. And after accounting for spending that is already exempt from budget caps, such as overseas military operations, most agencies are in line for at least small increases over the prior fiscal year’s levels.


rollcall--2020-11-24--The Transition: Joe Biden and the ‘dare to be dull’ approach to governing

The first full official day of the transition from the Trump administration to the Biden administration featured President-elect Joe Biden introducing several of his Cabinet picks in Wilmington , Delaware , a group of veteran hands that epitomizes what could be called his `` dare to be dull '' approach to governing .
Biden might be taking a page from the playbook of President Barack “ No Drama ” Obama , but the magnitude of the challenges Biden will face — a raging pandemic , millions of unemployed workers and an emboldened Republican Party — will create drama of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s way of dealing with it will be defined by fewer tweets and conspiracy theories .
Meanwhile , there are changes afoot in Congress as well .
We won ’ t know who is in the majority in the Senate until runoffs in Georgia on Jan. 5 , but we do know this : After coming under withering criticism for how she handled being the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee , Dianne Feinstein will relinquish that role , opening up the position to someone who can take a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time in the next Congress .
CQ Roll Call senior writer Todd Ruger and I discussed this move .
Speaking of the next Congress , January will bring a lot of ceremonial rituals surrounding new members and a new legislative session .
But thanks to the pandemic , we can expect things to play out very differently than previous years .
Senior writer Lindsey McPherson has been reporting on what we could see .

Jason Dick, Todd Ruger, Lindsey McPherson, and Evan Campbell

The first full official day of the transition from the Trump administration to the Biden administration featured President-elect Joe Biden introducing several of his Cabinet picks in Wilmington, Delaware, a group of veteran hands that epitomizes what could be called his "dare to be dull" approach to governing.
Biden might be taking a page from the playbook of President Barack “No Drama” Obama, but the magnitude of the challenges Biden will face — a raging pandemic, millions of unemployed workers and an emboldened Republican Party — will create drama of their own. It’s just that Biden’s way of dealing with it will be defined by fewer tweets and conspiracy theories.
Meanwhile, there are changes afoot in Congress as well. We won’t know who is in the majority in the Senate until runoffs in Georgia on Jan. 5, but we do know this: After coming under withering criticism for how she handled being the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dianne Feinstein will relinquish that role, opening up the position to someone who can take a different approach in what could be an eventful time in the next Congress. CQ Roll Call senior writer Todd Ruger and I discussed this move.
Speaking of the next Congress, January will bring a lot of ceremonial rituals surrounding new members and a new legislative session. But thanks to the pandemic, we can expect things to play out very differently than previous years. Senior writer Lindsey McPherson has been reporting on what we could see.


rollcall--2020-11-24--Drug touted by Trump may not alleviate pandemic’s toll on the poor

Federal officials on Tuesday plan to begin shipping thousands of doses of the monoclonal antibody drug made famous when President Donald Trump praised it after his COVID-19 recovery .
But experts worry the drug could be out of reach for some of the people it could most help , and may even exacerbate the pandemic 's racial and economic disparities .
When Trump praised the experimental drug made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in October , he promised it would be widely available for free .
But widespread distribution is n't possible because of limited manufacturing of the newly developed drug .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in access to monoclonal antibodies and other novel therapies will increase already well-documented health care disparities , '' wrote Robert Goldstein and Rochelle Walensky , infectious diseases doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital , in a Nov. 11 Journal of the American Medical Association article , noting that millions lost their employee-sponsored health insurance this year , including some who remain uninsured .
That is likely to have worsened inequality in coverage for Black and Latino people .
The treatment , a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab , was authorized on Saturday for emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows an emergency use authorization and similar government distribution plan for bamlanivimab , a separate monoclonal antibody drug manufactured by Eli Lilly & Co. , two weeks ago .
Both treatments are being distributed to states each week proportional to their share of national cases over the prior seven days , Operation Warp Speed announced Monday .
But this week 's supply — 30,000 courses of the Regeneron drug and 50,000 courses of the Eli Lilly drug — will be far outstripped by cases , which have approached 200,000 per day this week @

Federal officials on Tuesday plan to begin shipping thousands of doses of the monoclonal antibody drug made famous when President Donald Trump praised it after his COVID-19 recovery. But experts worry the drug could be out of reach for some of the people it could most help, and may even exacerbate the pandemic's racial and economic disparities.
When Trump praised the experimental drug made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in October, he promised it would be widely available for free. But widespread distribution isn't possible because of limited manufacturing of the newly developed drug.
"It is quite possible that inequities in access to monoclonal antibodies and other novel therapies will increase already well-documented health care disparities," wrote Robert Goldstein and Rochelle Walensky, infectious diseases doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, in a Nov. 11 Journal of the American Medical Association article, noting that millions lost their employee-sponsored health insurance this year, including some who remain uninsured. That is likely to have worsened inequality in coverage for Black and Latino people.
The treatment, a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab, was authorized on Saturday for emergency use during the COVID-19 pandemic. That follows an emergency use authorization and similar government distribution plan for bamlanivimab, a separate monoclonal antibody drug manufactured by Eli Lilly & Co., two weeks ago.
Both treatments are being distributed to states each week proportional to their share of national cases over the prior seven days, Operation Warp Speed announced Monday. But this week's supply — 30,000 courses of the Regeneron drug and 50,000 courses of the Eli Lilly drug — will be far outstripped by cases, which have approached 200,000 per day this week.


rollcall--2020-11-24--Walden reflects on health policy as career in Congress ends

Congress still has the potential to move forward in a bipartisan way on health care issues , including possible action to ban surprise medical bills , the top Republican on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee told CQ Roll Call as he approaches retirement .
Greg Walden , R-Ore. , who has served as both ranking member and chairman for the House committee with the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee , is known for his leadership on the 2018 opioid law and role in the House ’ s efforts to repeal and replace the 2010 health law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Call , the 11-term lawmaker reflected on his time shaping health policy and highlighted issues he hopes his successor will focus on .
“ I 've had a great run and I 'm not one of those cranky , grumpy members leaving in disgust , ” Walden said .
“ Democracy was meant to be messy and loud and I think we 'd all admit there have been times when it 's louder and messier than any of us wanted or liked , but it still works.
” Walden voted with his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the time during each year of the past decade , according to CQ Roll Call 's analysis , but at times joined Democrats on high-profile debates , such as in voting to end a 35-day government shutdown that stretched into 2019 .

Congress still has the potential to move forward in a bipartisan way on health care issues, including possible action to ban surprise medical bills, the top Republican on the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee told CQ Roll Call as he approaches retirement.
Oregon’s Greg Walden, who has served as both ranking member and chairman for the House panel with the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee, is known for his leadership on the 2018 opioid law and role in the House’s efforts to repeal and replace the 2010 health care law.
In a wide-ranging interview with CQ Roll Call, the 11-term lawmaker reflected on his time shaping health policy and highlighted issues he hopes his successor will focus on.
“I’ve had a great run, and I’m not one of those cranky, grumpy members leaving in disgust,” Walden said. “Democracy was meant to be messy and loud, and I think we’d all admit there have been times when it’s louder and messier than any of us wanted or liked, but it still works.”
Walden voted with his party on key issues at least 91 percent of the time during each year of the past decade, according to CQ Roll Call’s analysis, but at times joined Democrats on high-profile debates, such as in voting to end a 35-day government shutdown that stretched into 2019.