Zach C. Cohen
@zachccohen.bsky.social
Congress Reporter for @bgov.com. National Press Club secretary. Alum of National Journal/American University. zcohen@bloombergindustry.com. SeeDisclaimer.com
Senate Finance Committee members clashed over Social Security reform during a hearing where lawmakers were supposed to discuss finding solutions to bolstering the program’s solvency.
Social Security Hearing Gets Heated as Senators Mull Process
Senate Finance Committee members clashed over Social Security reform during a hearing where lawmakers were supposed to discuss finding solutions to bolstering the program’s solvency.
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Budget Chairman Ron Johnson said he wants the Senate to vote on the party-line budget resolution before leaving for August recess — and that he plans to force it himself if he has to.
Senate Chair Plans to Force Budget Floor Vote If Leaders Don’t
Budget Chairman Ron Johnson said he wants the Senate to vote on the party-line budget resolution before leaving for August recess — and that he plans to force it himself if he has to.
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Tax writers in Congress are exploring some fresh ways to stabilize Social Security as one of the nation’s largest public benefit programs veers toward a fiscal cliff.
Senators Look to Novel Ideas to Fix Social Security Shortfall
Tax writers in Congress are exploring some fresh ways to stabilize Social Security as one of the nation’s largest public benefit programs veers toward a fiscal cliff.
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Senate Republicans took up the message that their House colleagues have been hammering for months: Medicaid is rife with fraud and the program’s spending is skyrocketing.
Senate Republicans Take Up Medicaid Fraud Message Before Recess
Senate Republicans took up the message that their House colleagues have been hammering for months: Medicaid is rife with fraud and the program’s spending is skyrocketing.
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Republicans’ long-shot effort to advance an unprecedented fourth party-line bill through a complex budgetary process will require overcoming both political and procedural roadblocks.
Republicans Must Navigate Multiple Hurdles to Fourth Budget Bill
Republicans’ long-shot effort to advance an unprecedented fourth party-line bill through a complex budgetary process will require overcoming both political and procedural roadblocks.
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NEW: Senate appropriators blocked further clawbacks of IRS modernization funding as part of a stopgap funding bill released Sunday. The FY26 package rescinded $11.7 billion set aside for IRS operations support in the IRA, but it was struck from the CR. buff.ly/SAJIaWO
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Senate negotiators clinched a bipartisan deal on a stopgap bill to extend government funding and various authorities until Dec. 11. It includes a pause on implementation of a controversial OMB grantmaking rule. First test vote is Monday afternoon. news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
Senators Release Stopgap Funding Bill to Avoid Fall Shutdown (1)
Senate negotiators clinched a bipartisan deal aimed at avoiding a government-wide shutdown this fall.
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President Donald Trump is appealing a court order barring him from attempting to use a sweeping audit-immunity settlement that resolved his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
Trump Appeals Ruling Against His IRS Audit Immunity Deal (1)
President Donald Trump is appealing a court order barring him from attempting to use a sweeping audit-immunity settlement that resolved his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
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A hemp provision senators are debating as part of legislation to keep the government open through the November midterm elections has split the cannabis and hemp sectors, prompting dueling lobbying campaigns and unusual alliances.
Cannabis, Hemp ‘Loophole’ Fight Creates Unusual Lobby Alliances
A hemp provision senators are debating as part of legislation to keep the government open through the November midterm elections has split the cannabis and hemp sectors, prompting dueling lobbying campaigns and unusual alliances.
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Special interests from big business to bike lovers are pushing Congress to include billions of dollars in advance funding for transportation projects nationwide in an extension of surface transportation authorities.
Transportation Grants Near Fiscal Cliff in Highway Bill Lapse
Special interests from big business to bike lovers are pushing Congress to include billions of dollars in advance funding for transportation projects nationwide in an extension of surface transportation authorities.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) took a procedural step Thursday to advance compromise stopgap legislation to avert a government shutdown by the Sept. 30 funding deadline.
Thune Takes First Procedural Step Toward Stopgap Funding Vote
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) took a procedural step Thursday to advance compromise stopgap legislation to avert a government shutdown by the Sept. 30 funding deadline.
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“You’ve lost us all": Democrats are seeking to capitalize on Trump’s deportation agenda in three redrawn majority-Hispanic border districts by walking a political tightrope on immigration enforcement policies and funding. My dispatch from the RGV: news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
Texas Candidates Walk Immigration Tightrope in Redrawn Districts
How or whether Rep. Henry Cuellar and other Democrats win in border districts that Texas Republicans redrew will test the minority party’s road map for undermining the GOP’s political calculus.
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A pair of senior House Republicans are competing for the chance to shape fiscal policy in the back half of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Two Fiscal Hawks Racing to Lead House Budget Panel Republicans
A pair of senior House Republicans are competing for the chance to shape fiscal policy in the back half of President Donald Trump’s second term.
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Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar is touting federal cash for his newly redrawn district — and pushing for more earmarks — as he campaigns for reelection and a potential House Appropriations subcommittee gavel next year.
Cuellar, GOP Foe Clash on Earmarks in Texas Fight for House Seat
Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar is touting federal cash for his newly redrawn district — and pushing for more earmarks — as he campaigns for reelection and a potential House Appropriations subcommittee gavel next year.
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Democrats are pursuing a multi-pronged approach to rein in President Donald Trump’s war with Iran that relies on increasingly hardball tactics, including negotiating or opposing annual must-pass bills.
Democrats Press Dual-Track Strategy in Opposition to Iran War
Democrats are pursuing a multi-pronged approach to rein in President Donald Trump’s war with Iran that relies on increasingly hardball tactics, including negotiating or opposing annual must-pass bills.
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Senate Republicans are moving toward confirming the next batch of President Donald Trump’s executive nominees in their quest to get another tranche approved before the Senate begins its August recess.
Senate Kicks Off Process on Package of Trump Executive Nominees
Senate Republicans are moving toward confirming the next batch of President Donald Trump’s executive nominees in their quest to get another tranche approved before the Senate begins its August recess.
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Senate Budget Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said he'll meet with GOP leadership to discuss a path forward on framework for a third party-line budget bill this afternoon.
Senate Budget Chairman to Huddle With Leaders on GOP Budget Bill
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said he’ll meet with GOP leadership to discuss a path forward on framework for a third party-line budget bill this afternoon.
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Republicans writing their party's attempt at a $95 billion spending bill will use the upcoming month-long recess to work out the details, even as doubts linger over the Senate's plans for the package.
House Chairmen Writing Budget Bill While Waiting for the Senate
Republicans writing their party’s attempt at a $95 billion spending bill will use the upcoming month-long recess to work out the details, even as doubts linger over the Senate’s plans for the package.
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House Republican leaders made promises to their right flank that a fourth budget package will ease their concerns over the lack of spending offsets, in order to notch a win Wednesday on a framework for the third party-line budget bill this Congress.
House Hardliners’ Spending Cut Hopes Hinge on Fourth Budget Bill
House Republican leaders made promises to their right flank that a fourth budget package will ease their concerns over the lack of spending offsets, in order to notch a win Wednesday on a framework for the third party-line budget bill this Congress.
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Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) will take over leadership of the subcommittee that sets annual spending levels for the State Department and foreign aid following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Collins to Replace Graham Overseeing State Department Spending
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) will take over leadership of the subcommittee that sets annual spending levels for the State Department and foreign aid following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
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Two Senate panels voted Wednesday to send President Donald Trump's nominee to be the No. 2 at the Office of Management and Budget to the floor.
Vought Deputy Secures Approval of Two Key Senate Committees
Two Senate panels voted Wednesday to send President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the No. 2 at the Office of Management and Budget to the floor.
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The House passed stopgap funding to keep the government open past the midterm elections, though the measure now faces demands for changes in the Senate.
House Passes Stopgap to Avert Shutdown Before Midterm Election
The House passed stopgap funding to keep the government open past the midterm elections, though the measure now faces demands for changes in the Senate.
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House Republicans are discussing a fourth party-line budget reconciliation bill to "go after fraud," even as leaders struggle to collect votes for their third attempt, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told Bloomberg Government Tuesday.
House GOP Leader Previews Fourth Budget Bill Aimed at Fraud
House Republicans are discussing a fourth party-line budget reconciliation bill to “go after fraud,” even as leaders struggle to collect votes for their third attempt, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told Bloomberg Government Tuesday.
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Sen. Darline Graham will secure her brother's committee assignments after Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death earlier this month left his spots open.
Sen. Darline Graham to Fill Her Late Brother’s Committee Seats
Sen. Darline Graham will secure her brother’s committee assignments after Sen. Lindsey Graham‘s sudden death earlier this month left his spots open.
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Troy Jackson, a former senior state lawmaker, is on track to secure the Democratic US Senate nomination in Maine, replacing Graham Platner, a progressive favorite who was pushed out of the race amid sexual assault allegations.
Jackson on Track to Replace Platner as Maine Senate Nominee (1)
Troy Jackson, a former senior state lawmaker, is on track to secure the Democratic US Senate nomination in Maine, replacing Graham Platner, a progressive favorite who was pushed out of the race amid sexual assault allegations.
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Government funding would be extended through Dec. 4 under H.R. 9770, a continuing resolution for fiscal 2027.
BGOV Bill Analysis: H.R. 9770, FY 2027 Stopgap Funding to Dec. 4
Government funding would be extended through Dec. 4 under H.R. 9770, a continuing resolution for fiscal 2027.
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House leaders teed up a string of big-ticket legislative items this week ahead of their planned August recess, including a measure that would kick off their third partisan reconciliation drive of this Congress.
House Agenda for the Week of July 20
House leaders teed up a string of big-ticket legislative items this week ahead of their planned August recess, including a measure that would kick off their third partisan reconciliation drive of this Congress.
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House lawmakers set aside more than $420 million for hospitals in their districts in a fiscal 2027 funding bill, as the Appropriations Committee reintroduces earmarks in a traditionally fraught bill.
House Lawmakers Grab $420 Million for Hospitals Despite Curbs
House lawmakers set aside more than $420 million for hospitals in their districts in a fiscal 2027 funding bill, as the Appropriations Committee reintroduces earmarks in a traditionally fraught bill.
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The House Budget Committee advanced a framework that would unlock as much as $95 billion for costs of the Iran war, aid for farmers, and other GOP priorities.
GOP Blueprint to Spend Up to $95 Billion Advanced by House Panel
The House Budget Committee advanced a framework that would unlock as much as $95 billion for costs of the Iran war, aid for farmers, and other GOP priorities.
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Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to put a continuing resolution to fund the government on the House floor next week, kicking off a funding battle ahead of a Sep. 30 deadline.
House Speaker Plans Government Funding Stopgap Vote Next Week
Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to put a continuing resolution to fund the government on the House floor next week, kicking off a funding battle ahead of a Sep. 30 deadline.
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