News and updates

Here’s a selection of articles the Federal Relations team is reading this week.

Roll It Back – President Trump has embarked on the most aggressive campaign against government regulation since President Reagan. Use of the Congressional Review Act is the first means the Administration is using to remove existing regulations. Read more in The Washington Post. 

Background Power – Vice President Mike Pence has not been reported as a power player in the Trump Administration, but with the resignation of General Flynn this week (ostensibly for lying to the VP), Pence has emerged as more of a force in the Administation. Read more in The Hill. 

Taxable Concerns – President Trump has been very vocal on changing the border tax, but not all retailers (Trump, Best Buy, Gap) are on board. Read more in The Wall Street Journal. 

Private Market Student Loans – The Education Department is now the sole originator of the federal loans. Bringing private lenders back into the federal student loan program has been a staple of the Republican platform since the Obama administration kicked banks, credit unions, and other financial firms out. Talks about private lenders reentering the markets has emerged, but is this something feasible? Read more in The Washington Post. 

Taxable Concerns – President Trump has been very vocal on changing the border tax, but not all retailers (Trump, Best Buy, Gap) are on board. Read more in The Wall Street Journal. 

DACA Blowback – Trump’s inner circle is apparently torn on how to address DACA and if to include the popular program in any plan to strengthen immigration oversight. Read more in the LA Times. 

Not as Easy as It Sounds? – For most of the Obama’s tenure, Congressional Republicans and other conservatives sought to repeal ObamaCare.  With Republicans now controlling both the White House and Congress, many believed that concerns about the ACA would be tackled immediately at the start of 2017.  However, serious disagreements about how and when to repeal the program and concerns about potential implications of such actions are now emerging.  Read more in Politico (and here) and in The Hill.

The Independent Judiciary – Is an independent judiciary good for the long-term health of the republic? This article reviews the evidence, and investigates whether the judiciary can remain independent despite the highly polarized political environment in the United States. Read more in The Washington Post.

ACA Repeal Players – Republicans are wrestling with the difficult task of how to repeal and replace ­ObamaCare. Here are ten individuals who are likely to play key roles in shaping that process. Read more in The Hill.

Bankruptcy & Student Loans – Student loans are often dubbed the worst kind of debt because they’re notoriously difficult to get rid of — even in bankruptcy. But attorneys across the country are now challenging that conventional wisdom with some success, creating hope for millions of struggling borrowers. Read more in MarketWatch. 

Top 20 – Internships are a critical part of getting a job after college, but what areas are looking for interns and what skills do you need to show to get that internship? Read more in The New York Times. 

Appeal to Selfishness – It will make you more likely to act in an environmentally responsibly way. Read more in The Science of Us.