Suspending the Rules

President Donald Trump will attempt to thread the needle in his State of the Union address Tuesday, demanding money for a border wall while calling for bipartisan compromise on other issues, Bloomberg Government White House reporter Cheryl Bolen says on this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules." She previews the speech alongside BGOV legislative analyst Michael Smallberg, who also discusses the latest on spending negotiations.

Democrats last week reintroduced the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would expand penalties for wage discrimination based on sex. In the second segment, legislative analyst Danielle Parnass breaks down that measure, while legislative analyst Adam M. Taylor discusses a 100-bill lands package, S. 47, that the Senate has teed up for floor action.

Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass, Michael Smallberg.

Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Senate Republicans have no appetite for another government shutdown, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told Bloomberg Government homeland security reporter Michaela Ross at BGOV's 2019 Hill Watch event on Jan. 30. He spoke about congressional budget negotiations and his plans for military cybersecurity as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity. 

Hear their conversation and questions from the live audience on this special episode of "Suspending the Rules."

The event also included budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick's interview with House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), as well as a panel discussion among members of the BGOV legislative analyst team. Both conversations are available as special episodes in this podcast feed.

Democrats oppose linking the debt limit to the border debate.  

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), the new chairman of the House Budget Committee, outlined that position and Democratic priorities -- including on "Medicare for All" -- in an interview with Bloomberg Government budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick at BGOV's 2019 Hill Watch event on Jan. 30. This special episode of "Suspending the Rules" includes that conversation and the audience questions that followed.

Following the interview, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) spoke with BGOV homeland security reporter Michaela Ross. That conversation will be available in an upcoming special episode. The event also included a panel discussion among members of the BGOV legislative analyst team, which is available in a previously released episode in this podcast feed.

Congress could tackle a host of policy issues this year, once the spending fight is resolved, including infrastructure, tax, health care, climate, and more. 

Members of the Bloomberg Government legislative analyst team took the stage at BGOV's Hill Watch event on Jan. 30 to discuss the outlook for those issues. Hear their panel discussion, including audience questions, in this special episode of "Suspending the Rules."

Earlier in the event, House Budget Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) spoke one-on-one with BGOV reporters on their priorities for the year. Those interviews will be available in upcoming special episodes.

Panelists: Adam Schank, Sarah Babbage, Danielle Parnass, Adam M. Taylor.

Congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump reached agreement to reopen the government until Feb. 15. 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 prospects for full-year appropriations bills, the debate over border security, and the new dynamics of the spending fight. House and Senate committees will hold hearings this week on drug pricing, renewing a push to address the high costs Americans pay for medicine. In the second segment, health policy reporter Alex Ruoff and legislative analyst Danielle Parnass break down the efforts and potential legislation around drug prices. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass, Adam Schank.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

The Senate will act on legislation to open the government, fund the border wall, and make changes to asylum and other immigration programs. Democrats have rejected that proposal and the House is planning votes on a separate funding package this week. Adam Schank and Michael Smallberg from the Bloomberg Government legislative analyst team discuss the state of play on this week's episode of "Suspending the Rules." In the second segment, Bloomberg Law labor policy reporter Tyrone Richardson and BGOV legislative analyst Danielle Parnass discuss Democrats' recent proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and the outlook for the legislation in Congress. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass.Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is the new top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, assuming the mantle as his party moves into the minority. In this special episode of Bloomberg Government's "Suspending the Rules," transportation policy reporter Shaun Courtney sits down with Graves to break down his goals for the next two years and plans to work with new chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and the White House. This is the second of two special episodes focused on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Our interview with DeFazio was released on Jan. 11. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Sarah Babbage. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

The partial government shutdown that began Dec. 22 is now the longest in U.S. history. Bloomberg Government budget and appropriations reporter Jack Fitzpatrick discusses the impasse and options President Donald Trump has floated -- such as an emergency declaration to build a wall on the southern border –- that could lead to a solution. In the second segment, Fitzpatrick breaks down the reasons why the Senate hasn't taken up the House-passed spending bills, which are nearly identical to Senate bills from last year, and how the dynamic has led to a standstill in the chamber. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Danielle Parnass. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has been elevated to chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee under the Democrats' new House majority. In this special episode of "Suspending the Rules," Bloomberg Government transportation policy reporter Shaun Courtney sits down with DeFazio to discuss his priorities and plans for the committee during the 116th Congress. This is the first of two special episodes focused on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. An interview with the new ranking member, Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) will follow. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Sarah Babbage Engineer: Nico Anzalotta

House Democrats unveiled their first signature piece of legislation in the majority: H.R. 1, which would impose new ethics rules on federal officials, expand access to voting, and make changes to the campaign finance system. On this edition of "Suspending the Rules" from Bloomberg Government, legislative analysts Sarah Babbage and Michael Smallberg break down the bill and discuss the motives behind it, as well as its prospects. The House plans to take up two health-related bills this week, and the new House rules package allows the chamber to intervene in a lawsuit that could strike down the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, the Senate has teed up a bill focused on security in the Middle East. Legislative analysts Danielle Parnass and Naoreen Chowdhury discuss both topics in the second segment. Hosts: Adam M. Taylor, Adam Schank. Engineer: Nico Anzalotta.