Page 99 - Bloomberg Businessweek - November 19, 2018

Bloomberg Businessweek The Year Ahead 2019 Politics

Policy Scorecard

▷ Who and what to watch for in the 116th U�S� Congress

HOUSE On the agenda Top priority Why Republicans Why Republicans Key players
COMMITTEES should be scared should be fine
Financial Services Waters is a vocal “To bring accountability Expect Waters to Changes to the CFPB, Republican Patrick
Chair: Maxine Waters Trump critic. As chair, to the Trump be aggressive on even to restore powers McHenry of North
(Calif.) she’ll have a powerful Administration and the oversight. That means previously stripped Carolina is next in
megaphone to call out regulatory agencies more grilling of bank away by Congress, line to be ranking
misbehaving banks— under the Committee’s executives before the would require member—and has
and the investigative jurisdiction,” including committee and more legislation. That would already announced his
powers that come the Consumer Financial scrutiny of Trump’s be unlikely to advance intention to defend his
with it. Protection Bureau, she relationships with in a Republican- party’s agenda.
said in a press release. financial institutions. controlled Senate. —Andrew Ramonas

Appropriations What Lowey will try to Lowey has never been “She was for ‘Medicare- Fights over budget The two top aspirants
Chair: Nita Lowey (N.Y.) do in 2019 depends afraid of picking fights, for-all’ before it was and spending are no to be ranking member
in part on whether and she told Axios Inc. cool,” says Matt Dennis, less likely to dominate are an old-school
Congress manages to she intends to bring an ex-communications the 116th Congress deal-maker (Texas’ Kay
pass a spending bill that trait to the Trump director for the than they did the 115th. Granger) and a more
during the lame duck administration in the committee. Lowey also House and Senate fiscally conservative
session. Regardless, form of investigations. has close ties to party leaders will have to work firebrand (Georgia’s
look for her to shore up “We have our boxing leaders, which will help with the White House to Tom Graves).
safety net programs. gloves on,” she said. her get bills to the floor. raise spending caps. —Jack Fitzpatrick
Judiciary Russia. Nadler has The Judiciary Donald McGahn A former top Jim Jordan of Ohio, 61
Chair: Jerrold Nadler already given the U.S. Committee will have to left as White House Democratic committee a staunch Trump
(N.Y.) Department of Justice decide whether there counsel in October. aide speaking on the defender, could get
and the FBI a Dec. 31 are grounds to impeach His replacement, Pat condition of anonymity ranking member if the
deadline to respond the president, should it Cipollone, will need says that Nadler would GOP fears damning
to Democrats’ come to that—an issue time to staff up the start impeachment conclusions from
questions on the Robert several new members office; meanwhile, proceedings only if he Mueller. —Daniel R.
Mueller investigation campaigned on. Democrats will had bipartisan support. Stoller, with Shannon
and other matters. prepare subpoenas. Pettypiece

Ways and Means Neal has said Neal is under pressure Democrats may very Retirements and Health care is sure to
Chair: Richard Neal repeatedly that he to ask for Trump’s well take a page from defeats led to lots come up. Whoever
(Mass.) wants hearings on tax returns. Many the Trump playbook of turnover. More chairs the Health
the 2017 tax law to Democrats—including and introduce tax cuts than a quarter of the subcommittee—either
give those shut out of Nancy Pelosi, a possible for the middle class, committee’s members John Lewis (Ga.), Lloyd
that debate a chance choice for Speaker— which could help set will be new to Ways Doggett (Texas), or Mike
to participate and fix want to see it done their messaging for the and Means, so it may Thompson (Calif.)—will
what they think isn’t quickly, but there’s no 2020 elections. take a while to get have sway. —Kaustuv
working so far. timetable yet. down to business. Basu and Shira Stein
SENATE On the agenda Top priority Why Democrats should Why Democrats should Key players
COMMITTEES be scared be fine
Judiciary After advancing two It’s hard to overestimate If Grassley moves to Republicans didn’t gain Senator Mike Lee
Chair: Chuck Grassley Supreme Court justices the impact of judicial Finance, one of the as many seats as they’d of Utah chairs the
(Iowa) and 84 federal judges, appointments, which candidates to succeed hoped, so if Democrats subcommittee on
Grassley may call it a are reshaping America’s him is South Carolina’s can’t stem the judicial Antitrust, a Trump
job well done, despite legal landscape. Those Lindsey Graham, who onslaught, they may still administration priority.
an agenda that includes will continue in the next showed his combative be able to stand up to —Megan Howard and
prison reform, antitrust, Congress regardless of side during the Brett Grassley on issues such Alexei Alexis
and copyright issues. who’s chair. Kavanaugh hearings. as immigration.

Finance The committee’s to-do Trade could be a Grassley was part Tax cuts for the middle If Grassley decides to
Chair: Chuck Grassley list depends in part on special focus. More of early bipartisan class are a priority for stay put, Idaho’s Mike
(Iowa) who winds up leading than 85 percent of meetings on the both chambers, so Crapo would take the
it: Grassley is in line, but Grassley’s home state Affordable Care Act that Democrats may find gavel. He’s discussed
he may choose to stay is used for agriculture, eventually broke down. a willing partner the need to shore up
with Judiciary. Whatever and it’s been hit If Democrats want to in Grassley. entitlement programs
he decides, taxes will be hard by the Trump get anything done on and reduce spending.
front and center. administration’s policies health care, they’ll have —Allyson Versprille and
with China. to get it through him. Shira Stein