Lawmakers face a jam-packed agenda after the April recess that includes pandemic aid, restaurant relief, a semiconductor manufacturing measure, fiscal 2023 appropriations, and possibly a resurrected "Build Back Better" package. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Paul M. Krawzak outline the to-do list and assess the prospects for passage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2022•24 min
A $10 billion aid package for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics fell victim to the politics of immigration. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Aidan Quigley examine how a bipartisan compromise came unglued and the prospects for salvaging it. They also assess competing efforts to funnel more aid to restaurants and other pandemic-battered industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 08, 2022•18 min
President Joe Biden's budget request for the coming fiscal year sets the stage for a replay of the partisan struggle over defense and nondefense spending levels that delayed appropriations for months. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn outline the key elements of Biden's budget and assess the state of play on a new pandemic relief package and a response to high gas prices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 01, 2022•23 min
President Joe Biden's fiscal 2023 budget request, due Monday, will propose new spending levels for defense and nondefense programs at a time of soaring inflation in an election year. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Paul M. Krawzak preview the major elements of a budget package that Congress will wrestle with in coming months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2022•18 min
While the fiscal 2022 omnibus spending package steered clear of tax legislation, lawmakers are preparing to push for several tax measures in coming months, including breaks for charitable donations, research and development, employee retention and more. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Laura Weiss outline the congressional tax agenda and efforts to shore up funding for the IRS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18, 2022•19 min
It came more than five months late, but omnibus appropriations for the current fiscal year made it across the finish line this week. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Lindsey McPherson explain what took so long, how a compromise was reached, and the sacrifices made to get a deal done. They also assess a new fight over additional pandemic aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2022•24 min
With one week to go before current government funding runs out, lawmakers are struggling to reach a deal on fiscal 2022 appropriations while accommodating a new White House request for additional Ukraine aid and pandemic relief. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn assess the state of spending negotiations and discuss a lower-profile bill offering a major expansion of veterans' health care benefits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 04, 2022•20 min
Big spending increases for roads and other transportation projects approved in the bipartisan infrastructure law remain on hold until Congress passes an appropriations bill. In this episode of CQ Budget, budget tracker David Lerman speaks to experts Peter Cohn and Jessica Wehrman to understand what the hold up is and the political implications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11, 2022•26 min
The path to avoiding a government shutdown is changing by the hour. And if an agreement on spending isn't reached in two weeks, the government will come to a grinding halt. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman discuss what may go to the House floor as soon as Tuesday and what the details of a deal could look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 04, 2022•16 min
Democrats have so much to do and so little time. Congress faces a Feb. 18 deadline to complete overdue appropriations but distractions are multiplying. That means as each day passes the chances for a revival of the "Build Back Better" package dwindles. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Lindsey McPherson preview what is coming up in a very busy next few months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2022•19 min
President Biden and others have spoken this week about breaking apart the behemoth reconciliation package known as "Build Back Better" to pass pieces of it. But as CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn explain, this idea may be more complicated than it seems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 21, 2022•18 min
Lead appropriators from both sides of the aisle are sitting down to chat. Polite chatter in the hallways of Congress has replaced boisterous accusations. Could this mean months of drama over issues like defense and non-defense spending are getting hammered out? CQ Roll Call's Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman lay out where things stand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2022•19 min
CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman look ahead to negotiations around the roughly $2 trillion reconciliation package and appropriations season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 07, 2022•17 min
Democratic leaders hoped to pass a $2.2 trillion climate change and social safety package known as Build Back Better by Christmas. Instead, negotiations between President Joe Biden and West Virginia's Senator Joe Manchin will continue into the new year. CQ Roll Call's Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman discuss whether Democrats will be able to pass the measure in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2021•21 min
The Senate cleared a bill to let Democrats increase the debt limit on their own, delaying the next bipartisan debate over the debt limit until after the midterm elections. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down the bipartisan effort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10, 2021•21 min
There is so much left for Congress to do before the end of the year — a vote on the debt limit and the sweeping climate and social spending package. But divisions are so sharp that even the smallest of tasks like agreeing on a stopgap funding measure have become monumental tasks. CQ Roll Call’s David Lerman and Peter Cohn break down everything you need to know about the reconciliation package, the debt ceiling and the latest continuing resolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Dec 03, 2021•26 min
The House voted 220-213 Friday morning to send the Senate the $2.2 trillion reconciliation package -- capping off overnight drama when GOP leader Kevin McCarthy stalled passage while speaking for more than eight hours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2021•16 min
The House could vote as soon as next week on the roughly $2 trillion reconciliation package, sending it to the Senate where it's provisions could be changed. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down the latest around the reconciliation package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12, 2021•22 min
Financing concerns left moderate Democrats queasy about voting for a budget reconciliation package to expand the safety net and combat climate change. The plan hinges on new taxes, prescription drug cost savings, and increased tax enforcement. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Laura Weiss explain the financing behind the package and some last-minute negotiations that could still trigger further change Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 05, 2021•19 min
President Biden presented House Democrats with a $1.75 trillion reconciliation framework text this week. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down what was cut from the framework, the rift between progressive and moderate Democrats and what’s next for the reconciliation bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2021•22 min
When it comes to reconciliation, reducing the original price tag by $1.5 trillion has left a lot on the floor. President Joe Biden signaled Democrats are close now, or at least closer, to a final package. A Medicare expansion to cover dental, hearing and vision; tax rate increases on corporations and wealthy individuals; and two years of tuition-free community college appear to be left by the wayside. CQ Roll Call's Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman lay out the specifics and discuss the politics o...
Oct 22, 2021•19 min
Democrats have two weeks to meet a self-imposed deadline to pass a reconciliation bill, but a rift between moderate and progressive Democrats over the size of the package remains. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down the latest around the reconciliation bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2021•18 min
The Senate approved a short-term debt limit patch Thursday night, raising borrowing authority by $480 billion, but the compromise agreement between Senate leaders doesn’t provide much time to reach a longer-term agreement. CQ Roll Call's Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman take a look at the impending showdown over the debt limit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 08, 2021•21 min
The House could vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill Friday, but progressive Democrats plan to vote against the measure unless the Senate passes a reconciliation package. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman discuss the latest around President Joe Biden's domestic agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 01, 2021•19 min
The House passed a bill that would fund the government through Dec. 3, but it still needs to pass the evenly divided Senate. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down the bill's path in the Senate, if Democrats will end up addressing the debt limit through the reconciliation process and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2021•20 min
House Democrats wrapped up markups for the 13 sections of the reconciliation package this week, sending the draft text to the Budget Committee where it’ll be compiled before heading to the Rules Committee. But disagreements between moderate and progressive Democrats could significantly reshape the package. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down the latest on the reconciliation package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2021•21 min
The House is set to take up the fiscal 2022 budget resolution the week of Aug. 23, but moderates are threatening to block the tax and spending blueprint unless leaders hold a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and Paul Krawzak discuss the latest on the budget resolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2021•19 min
An upcoming decision on whether to raise or suspend the debt limit is shaping up to be one of the more challenging legislative battles this year. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman discuss what is likely to be a contentious fight between the two parties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 06, 2021•21 min
The Senate voted this week to advance bipartisan infrastructure legislation with $550 billion in new spending over the next 5 years. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman discuss the road ahead for the bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2021•20 min
The House is taking up seven appropriations bills as one package next week, bringing debates about federal funding for abortion, environmental policy and infrastructure to the floor. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down the road ahead for these bills. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2021•21 min