Suspending the Rules

A report coming this week on the economic effects of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, could set congressional consideration of the USMCA in motion this spring. On this episode of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, legislative analyst Sarah Babbage highlights Democrats' critiques of the deal and its path forward in the three trading partners' legislatures. Once the Trump administration submits the deal to Congress, it will be considered under expedited fast-track procedures with no opportunity for amendments. Before House Democrats consider it, they're calling for changes to the deal's labor and environment enforcement, pharmaceutical protections, and more.  Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Loren Duggan.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

The House this week is scheduled to vote on a bill to raise the statutory spending caps for two years. On this episode of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick and legislative analyst Michael Smallberg break down the state of play in the fiscal 2020 budget debate. With Tax Day just around the corner, House leaders have also teed up a vote on a tax administration bill, while Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) has formally requested President Donald Trump's tax returns from the Treasury Department. In the second segment, BGOV legislative analyst Sarah Babbage and Bloomberg News reporter Laura Davison discuss the tax agenda in the House. Contact the BGOV podcast team at [email protected]. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

The House this week will consider a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which lapsed on Feb. 15. The measure would also make changes to gun laws, prisoner placement, and housing assistance programs. On this episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," Naoreen Chowdhury and Adam Schank from the legislative analyst team discuss the state of play. Last week, the Justice Department asked a federal appeals court to invalidate all of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In the second segment, BGOV legislative analyst Danielle Parnass and senior health-care reporter Alex Ruoff break down the potential implications and next steps in Congress. Please send any feedback, questions, or comments to [email protected]. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass, Adam SchankEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

The House this week will vote on a nonbinding resolution opposing the Trump administration's move to ban transgender troops from serving in the military. The Pentagon said it plans to implement the policy in April, after several temporary injunctions were lifted. On this week's episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," Pentagon reporter Travis Tritten examines the ban and what comes next. The House has also scheduled votes on several bills targeting the regime of disputed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Russian influence in Europe. Another addresses Medicaid drug rebates and other program changes. In the second segment, BGOV legislative analysts Naoreen Chowdhury and Michael Smallberg break down those measures. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

President Donald Trump issued the first veto of his presidency on Friday, rejecting a resolution that would overturn his national emergency declaration at the southern border. Another resolution he opposes, this one to end U.S. involvement in Yemen's civil war, could land on his desk soon. On this episode of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, legislative analysts Michael Smallberg and Naoreen Chowdhury discuss the resolutions and what's next. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the House could consider a bill to reinstate Obama-era net neutrality rules when lawmakers return from their March recess. In the second segment, BGOV legislative analyst Adam M. Taylor and Bloomberg Law technology reporter Jon Reid break down the net neutrality debate. Hosts: Danielle Parnass, Adam M. Taylor, Michael SmallbergEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

The White House officially kicked off the fiscal 2020 spending fight today with a budget that proposes aggressive cuts to domestic spending and increases for the Defense Department. On this episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick and legislative analyst team lead Adam Schank look at the big picture of the budget and what comes next. The House is scheduled to take up several measures this week focused on transparency. They include calling for the Mueller report to be made public, investigating the assets of Russian president Vladimir Putin, and addressing financial crimes. In the second segment, legislative analysts Naoreen Chowdhury, Michael Smallberg, and Adam M. Taylor look at what's on the docket. Hosts: Danielle Parnass, Adam M. Taylor.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

House Democrats are poised to bring their signature elections and ethics package (H.R. 1) to the floor this week. On this episode of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, legislative analysts Michael Smallberg, Naoreen Chowdhury, and Adam M. Taylor break down some of the bill's key campaign finance and voting rights provisions. Last week, House Republicans used an obscure parliamentary tool to insert language opposed by most House Democrats into a gun-buyer background check bill. The "motion to recommit" is the subject of the second segment, which features BGOV deputy news director Loren Duggan. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Democrats in the House have introduced a joint resolution to undo President Donald Trump's emergency declaration, which he's using to divert funding for his border wall. On this episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," legislative analyst Michael Smallberg and team lead Adam Schank break down the issues involved and process moving forward. Among the dozens of committee and subcommittee hearings scheduled for this week are several examining data security, privacy laws, and corporate practices. In the second segment, BGOV legislative analyst Adam M. Taylor joins Smallberg to discuss the legislative push to enact the first comprehensive federal data security law. Hosts: Danielle Parnass, Adam M. Taylor, Adam SchankEngineer: Nico Anzalotta

President Donald Trump signed an agreement on Friday to keep the government open while issuing an emergency declaration to reprogram funding for a border wall. On this episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," homeland security reporter Michaela Ross and legislative analyst Michael Smallberg break down the spending deal and Trump's emergency maneuver. House Democrats plan to take up two bills after the Presidents Day recess to close what they describe as loopholes in the nation's gun buyer background check system. In the second segment, legislative analyst Adam M. Taylor dives into both bills and the changes they'd make. Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P., which operates Bloomberg Government, serves as a member of Everytown for Gun Safety’s advisory board and is a donor to the group. Everytown for Gun Safety advocates for universal background checks and other gun control measures. Hosts: Danielle Parnass, Adam M. Taylor, Michael Smallberg.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

As of Monday morning, talks to keep the government open stalled over disagreement on the number of immigration detention beds. 

On this episode of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick and legislative analyst team lead Adam Schank discuss the dynamics and possible paths forward to avoid a shutdown on Friday. House Democrats are starting to unveil health-care bills and hold committee hearings. In the second segment, BGOV health care reporter Alex Ruoff and legislative analyst Danielle Parnass discuss the latest health-care agenda in Congress, including on the Affordable Care Act and "Medicare-for-All" legislation. 

Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass, Adam Schank.

Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.