Government Relations Updates
Welcome back! While City Council is still out until the 22nd, the state Senate returned to session for a day (they’ll be back in an official capacity on the 29th) to re-elect Senator Kim Ward as President Pro Tempore. Governor Shapiro announced his bid for re-election in this year’s gubernatorial race, and there were several other announcements for various seats up for election.
The Bellevue Compass
Congress’s return road has been marked by a few obstacles. The deadline to avoid another shutdown is January 30th, and legislators are acutely aware that the expiration of the ACA tax credits has put many Americans in turmoil at the start of the new year.
In Case You Missed It
A necessary follow-up to this week’s Compass: members of the US House used a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation that would extend COVID-era Obamacare subsidies for another three years, passing 230-196. The bill is likely to die in the Senate.
The fatal shooting of a Minnesota mother by an ICE agent has sparked demonstrations in cities across the US, including Philadelphia.
Where the White House, Europeans, and Greenlanders stand on Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland—and why.
In a rare, and perhaps surprising, rebuke, the Senate voted on Thursday to advance legislation that would force President Trump to seek congressional approval before taking any new military action in Venezuela.
In international news, Iran’s internet and international phone services were cut during evening protests on Thursday, presumably by the Iranian government.
That’s all for now.
See you next week.
The Bellevue Team