Posts by Matt Zuiderhof

House Timing on Budget Resolution Speaker Johnson (R-LA) continues to push a very ambitious timeline for enactment of a budget reconciliation package.  Last week, he announced that Congress will pass a budget resolution, the first step that sets topline spending figures and unlocks the special reconciliation process, by the end of February. Per his schedule,…

Congressional Party Ratios The Senate started the week with just 98 members.  But, two appointments will return the chamber to a full roster.  The Florida Governor appointed the state’s Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody to the seat vacated by former-Senator Marco Rubio, who is now the Secretary of State.  And the Ohio Governor appointed his…

ASA Supports the Main Street Tax Certainty Act of 2025 ASA joins over 200 business groups in strong support of the Main Street Tax Certainty Act of 2025, legislation to make permanent the 20-percent deduction for small- and family-owned businesses (Section 199A). This legislation would provide certainty to the millions of S corporations, partnerships and…

The SBA Office of Advocacy Comments on OSHA’s Proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule The Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy filed comments regarding OSHA’s proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Rule. OSHA’s proposed rule would apply to all employers in general industry, construction, maritime, and agriculture where OSHA has jurisdiction and whose…

This Week in Congress This week, the House voted on three bills and they included: H.R. 28 would amend Title IX to prohibit schools receiving federal funds from allowing transgender women to participate in women’s sports; H.R. 33 would amend the tax code to reduce double taxation for individuals and companies doing business in both…

Republicans Remain Divided on Reconciliation Strategy Republican intra-party disputes over strategy and the party’s tiny House majority continue to stymie the party’s efforts to come together in support of a budget reconciliation strategy.  Last Wednesday, President-elect Trump met with Senate Republicans. Although some of them continued to argue for a two-bill approach, Trump reiterated his preference…

The Hunt for Revenue to Offset Tax Cuts Republican budget hawks remain very concerned about the deficit effect of a reconciliation bill.  Rep. Roy (R-TX) warned last week that he will push to be sure that the party does not rely on scoring gimmicks to claim that the package is deficit-neutral.  But Republican leadership has…

ASA Supports the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025 ASA supports the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2025 introduced by Sen. Thune (R-SD), which would lead the country towards a commonsense tax code that does not impose a destructive double or triple tax at death. We support full and permanent repeal of the federal estate…

This Week in Congress Last Friday, the House re-elected Rep. Johnson (R-LA) as Speaker and the 119th Congress was sworn into office. Now, the House and Senate will prepare for the 2025 congressional session scheduled to start later this month. On Monday, January 6th, Congress made Donald Trump’s Electoral College victory official and no Democratic…

118th Congress and Looking Ahead to Unified Government The 118th Congress had a historically lackluster performance, delivering just 158 pieces of legislation to be signed by the president; less than half of the previous Congress’s total. With unified government secured, it tends to equal results. The most productive Congresses under Presidents George W. Bush, Obama,…