August 1, 2022
Patrick Robertson leads off with his Washington Whispers column, reporting on what’s going to happen in the Senate and the House before they leave town for the August recess, and previewing some of the activity that is anticipated during the balance of the calendar year. Al Jackson also updates us on defense and defense appropriations issues, and Ramona Lessen monitored the July 26th hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism on decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level.
Read MoreJuly 13, 2022
Congress returned to Washington this week. At the top of Senate Democrats’ to-do list is building a consensus on a slimmed-down Build Back Better bill against the backdrop of a spiking inflation rate and signs of a slowing economy. In Heard on the Hill, Steve Gordon describes some of the major items that are being discussed for inclusion in this plan. Congressman Erik Paulsen wrote a wonderful article entitled “Inflation and a Slowing Economy – What to do About Both.” And Ramona Lessen monitored the July 12th Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing.
Read MoreJuly 12, 2022
Congressman Erik Paulsen recently interviewed Lisa B. Nelson, the Chief Executive Officer of ALEC, as she and her team prepare for ALEC's 49th annual meeting in Atlanta on July 27, 28, and 29. ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, is the largest non-partisan membership organization for state legislators and private sector representatives. Lisa is introduced by Arizona’s Senate President Karen Fann, who is ALEC’s current Chairperson.
Read MoreJune 29, 2022
Congressman Erik Paulsen recently spoke with Senator Todd Young (R-IN) about the bipartisan bill he’s championing entitled the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), previously called the Endless Frontiers Act. This legislation aims to increase American investment in innovation, strengthen the U.S. economy, and build resilience in our supply chain. This bill is designed to boost American investment in technologies widely used from the battlefield to the workplace and ensure that investments of U.S. capital in the Chinese market will not be used to threaten our national security.
Read MoreJune 22, 2022
Patrick Robertson leads off today’s edition with his Washington Whispers column, which focuses today on the research and development tax credit. We have also prepared an Infograph which provides details on the R&D tax credit. Al Jackson brings us up to date on defense issues and defense appropriations. We recently shared a Total Spectrum Spotlight interview between Congressman Erik Paulsen and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), and we’ve included it in today’s edition as well. Watch this short but significant interview of one Senator who is on everybody’s list of rising stars in Washington.
Read MoreJune 15, 2022
Congressman Erik Paulsen sat down with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) to talk about the viability of the American Dream through access to education and the Senator’s commitment to Opportunity Zones as a vehicle for positive change. Senator Scott also talked about the headwinds facing small businesses, how funding reform is inextricably intertwined with criminal justice reform, and why we must address supply chain issues through infrastructure investments.
Read MoreJune 8, 2022
Steve Gordon describes in Heard on the Hill the environment and mood in Washington, and what Congress is likely to tackle in the final six months of this Congressional session. Al Jackson updates us on defense and related appropriations, and Ramona Lessen monitored this week’s hearing of the Senate Finance Committee that dealt with the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023. Congressman Erik Paulsen is interviewing Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) for Total Spectrum Spotlight. Senator Scott sits on the Senate committees for Finance; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Small Business. Senator Scott is a rising star in Republican politics, and we look forward to bringing you this Total Spectrum Spotlight interview in the very near future. In case you missed it, we’ve also included a recent interview with Charlie Cook, founder of and contributor to the Cook Political Report. His insights on political momentum and which issues will truly drive voters in the midterm elections are worth a watch.
Read MoreJune 1, 2022
Charlie Cook, who’s been called the “Picasso of election analysis,” founded The Cook Political Report in 1984 as an independent and non-partisan newspaper that analyzes both elections and political trends. For nearly 40 years, people from both parties have wanted to know “What does Charlie think?” In this edition of Total Spectrum Spotlight, Congressman Erik Paulsen talks with Charlie Cook about what issues may actually drive voters in the 2022 midterms, how we could see a wave election while our country is so divided, and two Members of Congress who, in Charlie’s opinion, have really improved the American experience.
Read MoreMay 18, 2022
Patrick Robertson reflects this week on his years working in and with members of the U.S.Senate and talks about why headlines such as “The longest 50-50 Senate grinds on” really miss the point. Ramona Lessen reviewed Tuesday’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing that examined the U.S.-Canada Energy and Minerals Partnership. We have also included this week’s Total Spectrum Spotlight. Congressman Erik Paulsen interviewed exclusively for the Arizona Chamber membership Mr. Kevin Hassett, former Senior Advisor and Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. If you’re concerned about inflation, the chance of a recession, or the impact of government regulations on your business, you’ll want to watch this interview.
Read MoreMay 16, 2022
Below please find an exclusive Total Spectrum Spotlight interview with Kevin Hassett, who was not only a Senior Adviser and Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors in the Trump Administration, but was also the economic advisor to President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign, Senator John McCain’s 2008 Presidential campaign, and Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign. If you're at all interested in or impacted by the economy, we're certain this conversation with our colleague Congressman Erik Paulsen will be of interest to you.
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