March 4, 2019
This week Steve Ruhlen continues his columns on budget and appropriations. Steve Gordon returns with a summary of what’s he’s heard about both economic and trade issues in Heard on the Hill. Dana Marston provides rosters for the new House Budget and Senate Finance Committees, and takes a look at the President’s latest action to delay a tariff hike on Chinese goods, as well as home prices in metro areas across the U.S.
Read MoreFebruary 12, 2019
The talk of the town last week – and for several weeks – has been the logjam over funding about 25 percent of the government, which includes the Department of Homeland Security. Steve Gordon takes us through the roller coaster of emotions in Heard on the Hill and describes how compromise and the art of the possible appears to have carried the day. Steve also describes some of the discussions at this past weekend’s National Republican Senatorial Committee winter retreat.
Read MoreFebruary 5, 2019
Steve Gordon leads off with a sweet and sour Heard on the Hill. The sweet part was Friday’s jobs report and an economic comparison of where the economy was two years ago vs. today. The sour part is the current mood in Washington, and the search for an exit ramp. Larry Smith updates us on trade, and Steve Ruhlen continues his introduction of the appropriations process with an article that discusses the possibility that some form of earmarks may return.
Read MoreDecember 17, 2018
This week, we asked Steve Gordon to focus Heard on the Hill on the things that need to be concluded by the 115th Congress. Steve calls the first half of his report ‘And now there are only one and one-half things left to do,’ and then concludes this week’s article by thanking Senator Jon Kyl for his service to Arizona. Dana Marston takes a look at the recent Farm Bill passed by both the House and Senate, last efforts at federal tax regulation this Congress, and state trade balances. We’ll close Thursday night so our partners and colleagues can be home with their families over the Christmas holiday, but we’ll keep you advised of any major developments in special editions whenever warranted. This is our last regularly scheduled report this year. We hope each of you has a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and both a healthy and successful New Year.
Read MoreNovember 30, 2018
The November 6th off-year election took three weeks, but it has finally effectively ended. The lame duck session is the last few weeks of the 115th Congress – which should adjourn around December 14th. Steve Gordon covers it all in Heard on the Hill. Al Jackson summarizes the status of defense appropriations. Dana Marston shares next week’s legislative calendar, then takes a look at Democrats’ leadership elected for the 116th Congress, analysis of congressmen’s professional backgrounds, and the continuing climb of drug overdose rates.
Read MoreNovember 9, 2018
Steve Gordon was in professional politics for more than 36 years. We asked him to write a summary of the 2018 midterm election based on his experience and his conversations with key objective political observers. We hope you find it interesting. Congress will reconvene next week for the Lame Duck Session. We’ll have a special summary of what needs to be done and what might get done in next week’s edition of This Week in Washington.
Read MoreOctober 8, 2018
We delayed last week’s edition until today so we could cover and sum up Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination process and Jennifer Duffy’s appearance at last Friday’s Arizona Manufacturers Council. Steve Gordon covered them both and talks about the things that should have been noted and talked about in Heard on the Hill. Larry Smith has really good news in this week’s Trade Update. Al Jackson reports on the recently passed 2019 Defense Appropriations bill, and potential changes in the defense space should Democrats gain control of one or both chambers of Congress. Dana Marston brings next week’s abbreviated Senate hearing and meeting schedule and takes a dive into trade – both with our neighbors to the north and south, but also with Japan. The House is out of session, but the Senate is in and will remain so at least another week or so. Our next issue will circulate a week from today.
Read MoreSeptember 28, 2018
Supreme Court nominations used to be fairly tame events, but those days are gone. We said that if the special Judiciary Committee hearing occurred yesterday it would generate huge ratings in Washington – and the hearing and the ratings didn’t disappoint. Steve Gordon reports on Thursday in Washington and other trends and pending events in Heard on the Hill. Jake Ostenso updates us on his Agency Watch. Dana Marston provides a next week’s Senate calendar, then looks at tariffs’ impacts upon state imports as well as trade with Mexico, last year’s particularly harsh flu season, and one of several appropriations bills. Next week’s This Week will publish on Monday, October 8th.
Read MoreSeptember 21, 2018
It’s fair to say that people in Washington are focused on the Supreme Court nomination, the upcoming election, funding the government, and concern over trade negotiations. Steve Gordon talks about the Supreme Court confirmation battle from the perspective of politics, the down-to-the-wire work on the Fiscal Year 2019 budget, and trade concerns in Heard on the Hill. Larry Smith goes deeper yet on trade and NAFTA in his Trade Update, though be forewarned – the short-term doesn’t look rosy. Dana Marston takes a look at China’s latest retaliatory tariffs and which states sit best, from a fiscal perspective, should another recession creep up on us.
Read MoreAugust 27, 2018
Washington mourns with Arizona and a grateful nation the passing of Senator John McCain. Everyone who had contact with Senator McCain has his or her own recollections and reflections. Steve Gordon was a consultant to Senator McCain’s campaign committee for most of the 1990’s and he shares his thoughts with us. We join with so many others in extending our thoughts and prayers to the McCain family.
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