Insights by issue
Post-election policy landscape
For the third national election in a row, the political party in control of the House, Senate or White House has been thrown out of office by American voters. An exotic piece of political trivia? Not when you realize that the last time control of the White House, Senate or House changed hands in three consecutive national elections was 1880, 1882 and 1884.
Having taken the House of Representatives and scored significant gains in the Senate, the Republicans can fairly claim victory in this year's midterm elections. But in their ongoing fickleness — perhaps pragmatism would be a better term — the American people are once again sending a message that is obscure only to those partisans who refuse to see it: Washington isn't working and unless things change, any politician could be out of work after the next election. Read more »
Our insights: healthcare
For Democrats in 2010, healthcare reform proved to be an achievement of lethal political magnitude. Rather than voters learning to love it over time, opposition to the historic law has only intensified since its enactment and contributed to an historic shift of power in the House and losses in the Senate. Whether the opposition toward the law is, at its heart, a public relations problem as Democrats claim, or a policy problem as Republicans argue, proposed changes to the law next year – including an operationally symbolic vote for repeal in both chambers – will be discussed, debated, and demagogued. In short, the Washington communications channel titled "Healthcare Reform" will remain open and active. Read More »
Our insights: financial services
A wave of new and returning members of Congress will take their seats next year after winning elections by campaigning against Wall Street, government bailouts, and TARP. These members must determine how to best turn their rhetoric into action. They will be joined by many of the architects of last year's landmark Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation, the most comprehensive financial regulation reform law in modern times. Together, they will focus on monitoring and influencing the implementation of the new law and several other issues. Read More »
Our insights: energy & environment
The dynamics on Capitol Hill have changed dramatically since the House approved a sweeping climate and energy bill last summer – on a largely party-line vote – that would have instituted a price on carbon and imposed emissions limits across many sectors of the economy.
To be sure, even a scaled-back version of that legislation failed to gain traction in the Senate, in part because of questions surrounding the impact on the American economy. But in the intervening months – and amid a highly contentious midterm election – the partisan divide over climate change and alternative energy has widened considerably. Read More »
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