June 24, 2022
Patrick Robertson leads off today’s edition with his Washington Whispers column, where he focuses on the workings of Congress by highlighting the research and development tax credit. Al Jackson brings us up to date on defense issues and defense appropriations. Jesse Weathington gives us the latest in Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. In today’s Infographs, you’ll find one on the R&D tax credit, as discussed in Washington Whispers.
Read MoreJune 17, 2022
Today we bring you a Total Spectrum Spotlight interview with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC). He's widely acknowledged - by folks on either side of the aisle - as a rising star in Washington. His intellect, communication skills, and uncommon common sense have made him a quiet leader on all the committees on which he serves – Finance; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Small Business – and on the Floor of the Senate. Watch this relatively short interview, and you’ll see why Senator Tim Scott is a rising star.
Read MoreJune 10, 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 a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee that dealt withthe President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2023. Jesse Weathington will shed some light on the latest in Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. Be sure to check out the Infographs on current hot topics. We have also included our recent Total Spectrum Spotlight 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 MoreMay 20, 2022
Patrick Robertson reflects this week on a couple of headlines - “Vice President Harris approaching records for tie-breaking votes” and “The longest 50-50 Senate grinds on.”. Ramona Lessen reviewed Tuesday’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing that examined the U.S.-Canada Energy and Minerals Partnership. As usual, Jesse Weathington lays out the latest in Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. Don’t miss the Infographs for an in-depth look at current hot topics. In case you missed it, we have also included this week’s Total Spectrum Spotlight. Congressman Erik Paulsen interviewed Kevin Hassett, former Senior Advisor and Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
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 Advisers 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.
Read MoreMay 6, 2022
Heard on the Hill covers Monday’s leak of an early draft of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion on the upcoming Roe v. Wade case – and the security, legal, and political implications of both the leak and the ultimate decision. Al Jackson brings us his Defense Update. Ramona Lessen monitored Tuesday’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity on Artificial Intelligence Applications to Cyberspace Operations. Jesse Weathington gives us some insight into Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. Don’t miss the Infographs for an in-depth look at current hot topics.
Read MoreApril 22, 2022
Congress is on their Easter in-state work period. Staff has been preparing throughout this recess for what must get done during the balance of the year and before the November elections. Patrick Robertson has written an excellent article on that subject, highlighting the internal frustrations among Democrats and the choices that Democratic leadership will need to make very soon. Jesse Weathington gives us the latest in Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. As always, be sure to take a look at the Infographs for an in-depth look at current hot topics. Now, we want to make a REALLY SPECIAL announcement. We started Total Spectrum Spotlight in the fall of 2020 so we could highlight for you news makers, news shapers, and people who fairly interpret the news. We overcame COVID, the work restrictions placed on us during the pandemic, we ironed out the wrinkles that are bound to be in any new product – and we produced some very good short interviews. Now it is time to take Total Spectrum Spotlight to the next level, so we are pleased to announce Total Spectrum Spotlight 2.0.
Read MoreApril 8, 2022
Today’s Heard on the Hill leads with the Republican Leader – Senator Mitch McConnell. Steve Gordon was a consultant to him in his first campaign, and they reconnected recently at a series of events. Steve summarizes the Leader’s comments on key issues, and we think you’ll find this look into the Leader both informative and interesting. We also summarize the most current information on Rule 42, which could drastically change the number of illegal border crossings, and also the pending legislation that would provide additional funding for COVID tests and medications. Congressman Erik Paulsen helped write the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as a member of the House Ways & Means Committee. He has written an excellent article about the reasons why Congress should make the 2017 tax cuts permanent. Al Jackson brings us up to date on defense and defense appropriations happenings, while Ramona Lessen reports on the House Homeland Security Committee’s April 5 hearing on mobilizing our cyber defenses. Well, the Georgia legislative session has ended, and the Azaleas are in bloom in Augusta. Jesse Weathington gives us the latest in Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. Make sure to take a look at the Infographs for an in-depth look at current hot topics.
Read MoreMarch 25, 2022
Winter is waning, and we’ve approached cherry blossom time. Congress will pretty much be focused on the midterm elections after July 31st, so Administration and Congressional leaders are feverishly putting together a list of legislative things that must get done – and can get done – in the next few months. Patrick Robertson’s Washington Whispers is an important guide to possible legislative activity. Ramona Lessen reviewed two hearings – Monday’s Senate Judiciary Hearing on the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and Tuesday’s Senate Banking Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing entitled “Building a Resilient Economy by Shoring up Supply”. Crossover Day in the Georgia Legislature has come and gone. Jesse Weathington gives us the latest in Georgia with his Gold Dome Report. Check out the Infographs for an in-depth look at current hot topics. A great number of industries were hurt during the pandemic, but the restaurant industry is at or near the top of the list. Congressman Erik Paulsen interviewed Dwayne Allen for Total Spectrum Spotlight. Mr. Allen is the Co-Founder and Owner of the Breadfruit and Rum Bar in Phoenix, AZ and he is a member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition. He describes the rewards and the challenges he and many other local restaurants are facing. It’s a great interview and we hope you’ll watch it.
Read MoreMarch 11, 2022
Well, Congress just beat the buzzer in funding the federal government before money ran out at midnight tonight. The House of Representatives passed a $1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations bill on Wednesday. The President and the Democratic leadership originally wanted to include $15 billion in additional pandemic relief funding, but House Democrats from several states objected to the legislative maneuvering because they believed their states were getting shortchanged on unspent COVID aid. Therefore, Speaker Pelosi pulled the additional COVID funding from the appropriations bill. Some Republicans had been objecting to this additional funding without an audit to determine where the trillions previously appropriated had gone. So, by removing the measure from the omnibus the prospects for an ‘easier’ path to passage in the Senate became more likely. As such, the Senate passed the $1.5 trillion package Thursday night. It now awaits signature by the President. Both parties claim they each got something in the $1.5 trillion omnibus appropriations bill. Democrats tout the nearly 7% increase for non-defense agencies, thus increasing that funding to $730 billion. Republicans tout the $782 billion for national defense, which is just shy of a 6% increase from current spending. Steve Ruhlen, a Total Spectrum Partner who has spent years working and understanding the appropriations process, will explain in more detail. Heard on the Hill covers Washington’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a possible new legislative agenda for Senate Democrats, final passage of postal reform in the Senate, and a few parting words about the end of the worst part of COVID. Remember that $1.5 trillion package we told you about? Congressman Erik Paulsen, who served on the House Ways and Means Committee and as Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, is concerned about the impact of our ever-growing national debt on each of us, and we think you will be concerned too. Ramona Lessen gives a report on a hearing that took place this week, which is timely given this weekend’s shift to Daylight Savings Time. The hearing is entitled, “Changing Times: Revisiting Spring Forward and Fall Back.” and was before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. 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.
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