October 29, 2021
As this is being written, President Biden has announced a framework for the Democrats’ scaled-back reconciliation package, as well as held an impromptu meeting with the House Democrat Caucus at the Capitol where he basically told them to get the reconciliation and infrastructure packages passed before he landed in Europe for his meeting with the Pope and the climate change conference. Meanwhile, progressive Democrats aren’t quite there yet. This push and pull in the Democratic caucuses of the Senate and the House reminds one of the old line about the immovable object and the unstoppable force.
In this edition of This Week in Washington, Patrick Robertson’s Washington Whispers continues his excellent coverage of activity on the social infrastructure bill Democrats want to pass using the reconciliation process, the bipartisan infrastructure bill, funding the government for this fiscal year, and the need to raise the debt ceiling. Al Jackson shares his Defense Update, and Ramona Lessen provides summaries of two Congressional hearings – one on security issues in Afghanistan and central/south Asia, and a second focused on cyberattacks on planes, trains, and pipelines.
Jesse Weathington gives us the latest in Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. Be sure to check out the Infographs for an in-depth look at current hot topics.