January 29, 2018
For an exception to the rule that it doesn’t pay for a congressional Republican on the rise to cross President Donald Trump, the curious case of Senator Cory Gardner may provide the current best example. “He won by calling himself ‘a new kind of Republican,’ and so be it if that means being outspoken when he disagrees with the president,” said Steve Gordon, Total Spectrum’s Managing Partner, a long-time GOP operative, and veteran of Gardner’s 2014 campaign. “That’s just who he is, and fortunately for him it’s also good politics at home.”
Read MoreJanuary 26, 2018
Thanks for your continued interest in Washington, D.C. and for reading This Week in Washington. Steve Gordon provides an overview of this year’s legislative agenda – from the vantage point of the Senate Majority Leader – in “Heard on the Hill.” Larry Smith updates NAFTA/Trade, while Mark Strand, President of the Congressional Institute, contributes his thoughts on Congress’s role in NAFTA. Al Jackson provides a look into the impact of continuing resolutions on military readiness, while Jake Ostenso updates on regulatory changes in Agency Watch. Dana Marston provides next week’s Capitol Hill calendar, as well as insight into President Trump’s draft infrastructure plan, new tax laws facing U.S. companies that operate internationally, where your health insurance dollars go, and the Senate’s work to avoid a second government shutdown. The President’s State of the Union address is scheduled for Tuesday, January 30th. Senate and House Republicans will have a legislative retreat later next week. We’ll publish an abbreviated version next week, and a full report the following week. Thanks for your thoughts and comments, and thanks again for reading This Week.
Read MoreJanuary 19, 2018
Thanks for reading This Week in Washington. The new tax reform legislation is generating early but very positive signs. Americans are beginning to give this legislation that the kind of positive response that Republican legislators expected. Congress is starting 2018 with two carry-over challenges -- spending and immigration. The federal government will run out of money Friday night. Both sides say that there will not be a government shutdown… both sides say the other side will be responsible if there is a shutdown. We’ll focus our attention this year and keep you up to date on key areas of concern for members of the Arizona Chamber. This week, Steve Gordon discusses everything he’s seen and heard this week in Heard on The Hill. Mike Joyce tells us about the upcoming infrastructure proposal. Dana Marston provides a calendar of hearings and markups today and next week, as well as graphics on the President’s key trade advisers, proposed Medicaid work requirements, effects of the new tax law on your paycheck, where DACA matters most, and who is affected by a government shutdown… if it comes. Please continue to feel free to reach us with your comments and suggestions for future editions.
Read MoreJanuary 17, 2018
This is the first of a series of bimonthly articles about how the activities of the federal government can and does impact on the needs and concerns of Georgians by Georgia’s Total Spectrum team. We’ll focus every article on one key need or legislative issue. We’ll also highlight interviews with members of Georgia’s congressional delegation, and we will include an overview in words and pictures of what you really need to know about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Click on the links for biographical introductions to Georgia’s Total Spectrum team: Todd Smith, Steve Gordon, and Jesse Weathington. The first edition will focus on offshore drilling and exploration.
Read MoreJanuary 16, 2018
Steve Gordon, Managing Partner of Total Spectrum/Steve Gordon and Associates, is pleased to announce that Mike Joyce is the newest partner of this rapidly expanding public affairs firm.
Read MoreJanuary 12, 2018
Happy, healthy, and successful New Year. This begins the second year of our affiliation with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We are very grateful for the warm and positive response we’ve received to This Week in Washington, and we’re grateful to everyone at the Arizona Chamber for their assistance, encouragement, and support. We will continue last year’s structure and format, and we’ll augment it with more interviews from key individuals around Washington. We’re discussing other creative ways to bring information about Washington, D.C. to the members of the Arizona Chamber – and we’ll keep you advised. Steve Gordon sets the stage for 2018 with an overview of where we start the year in Heard on the Hill. Larry Smith provides the latest on NAFTA renegotiation process and trade. Dana Marston shares this week’s hearing calendar, as well as graphics on the increased minimum wage, unemployment rates, the upcoming tax season, and a new form of health plan made possible by a presidential executive order. Thanks for your continued interest in Washington, D.C. and for reading This Week in Washington. Here’s to a great 2018.
Read MoreDecember 15, 2017
Both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee just released jointly the highlights of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. Senator Marco Rubio received additional revenue for child care. Both Senators Rubio and Corker are on board. There may be a small hiccup between now and next week, but it’s hard to imagine a situation that would derail this effort. We’ll forward the text of the conference committee report as soon as it’s available.
Read MoreDecember 14, 2017
Thanks for your continued interest in Washington, and for reading This Week in Washington. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) wisely said that failure on the tax bill is not an option. There has been great progress, and votes on the conference report are tentatively scheduled for early next week. A hiccup developed early Thursday afternoon… and there may be a few more before the vote. Steve Gordon has reports on the road to tax reform, concern about NAFTA, and the possibility of infrastructure on the agenda next year – leading up to probable adjournment next Friday. Larry Smith reports on TRADE/NAFTA, Jake Ostenso’s Agency Watch brings us the latest in regulatory reform, and Dana Marston provides a look just who is participating in the ongoing tax conference, and potential changes to the Antiquities Act. Next week will be our year-end special report. We’ll report on activities during the week, we will look back throughout 2017 and look ahead to 2018 with reports by Total Spectrum partners and strategic consultants.
Read MoreDecember 7, 2017
Thanks for your continued interest in Washington, and for reading This Week in Washington. We’ll be doing a little different format for the next few weeks. Steve Gordon explains: “It is going to be a race to the wire for the next three weeks… Tax Reform. A continuing resolution. An omnibus spending bill, renewing CHIP (The Children’s Health Care Program). A tax corrections bill and then a tax bill to deal with extenders. Our colleagues are devoting almost every hour they have to the needs of their clients – as they should be. I’ve asked them to write as their time permits, and to send information to me for inclusion in “Heard on the Hill”. We’ll publish in December whenever there’s important news – but at least once a week.” Dana Marston shares a calendar of this week’s hearings and mark ups, as well as several infographics with different perspectives on the tax reform legislative process, and another on American’s view of the opioid crisis. We appreciate your questions and emails.
Read MoreNovember 30, 2017
Over the last 24 hours, my business partner Andy Ehrlich and I have attended a few ’background briefings’ with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican Senators regarding efforts to pass tax reform legislation. This special edition is an amalgamation of the thoughts provided us.
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