By Mark Riso, Director of Government Relations - PHCC National Association
CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH CARE DEBATE ... WHAT’S NEXT?
Congress went into their annual August recess with a loud thud - the defeat of the Senate Republican health care repeal proposal left many wondering what to do next – and what to expect. The defeat of the repeal proposal caught many off guard on Capitol Hill and perhaps highlights issues the House and Senate are experiencing. Bipartisanship is not something we are seeing much of on Capitol Hill these days, and all are to blame. The surprise Senate vote that killed the repeal plan generated calls for bipartisan health care hearings in September in the Senate. Is this something that will produce positive results? We will have to wait and see. In the meantime
W140N5086 Lilly Rd Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 7150 143rd Ave NW Ramsey, MN 55303 soderholmrep.com 800.328.9858 An Employee-Owned Company
Market Influence. Customer Value. 14
The Wisconsin PHC Contractor
though – lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol and in both parties – realize something has to be done right away. The very real threat of escalating insurance premiums have many Americans worried – and rightfully so. But when Congress returns in September, the House and Senate have other pressing issues to deal with on their legislative plate – namely, the federal budget (which must be completed and passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law by the end of September), a debt ceiling decision that will be contentious (which also needs to be addressed by the end of September) – and an aggressive debate and action on tax reform, which some feel may be possible by Thanksgiving. There is much more, but certain issues are more pressing because of time. The most likely scenario is that Congress will pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to address the federal budget issue. A CR is a stop-gap budget that basically continues to fund the federal government at its current level – for a period of time determined by Congress. In this case – you can expect that Congress will pass a CR that will extend into the fall. Also expect that Congress will pass a temporary debt ceiling increase – that will run in parallel with the CR. Remember, both of these must be addressed by the end of September. These extensions will allow for Congress to consider tax reform legislation – so that these issues move together. Combine this with the possibility that Congress will take another shot at a repeal and replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act – and you can understand the complexities of September on Capitol Hill. When the House and Senate begin their legislative sessions in early September, there will be a true urgency to coordinate these issues – in order to succeed. PHCC National will provide members with detailed information as to how the issues in September impact the plumbing-heating-cooling industry, and how you can become involved with PHCC’s grassroots network system. FALL 2017