Monday, April 12, 2010

The Policy Agenda After Healthcare Reform
With health reform on the books and Congress returning from its Passover/Easter Recess, expect the budget and jobs legislation to top the agenda for what has traditionally been an intense 6-week work period between now and Memorial Day. House and Senate Budget Committees will take a run at writing the FY 2011 Budget Resolution, with guidance on aggregate spending and revenue levels -- and the possibility of initiating a new reconciliation process for 51-vote budget writing (in the Senate) to ease the way for pre-election policy making. Will the spring bring a renewed hope for bipartisan cooperation? Don't count on it. Some Republicans are threatening no cooperation after being "jammed" with health care reform and leaders on both sides keeping their collective eye on the prize of a new or renewed majority on Election Day 2010. Expect the immediate focus to be on President Obama's nomination of a new Supreme Court Associate Justice to take the place of retiring Justice John Paul Stevens, leader of the Court's liberal wing. Radio talk show heaven ahead.

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