100 Days: ‘Signs Of Progress’

 ‘One Of The More Productive Legislative Periods In Recent Years,’ A ‘Rash Of Bipartisanship’

“The first 100 days of the 114th Congress offered signs of progress. … Republicans say the party is knocking the dust off its governing playbook for what could be one of the more productive legislative periods in recent years.” (“100 Days Of Congress: Stumbles But Signs Of Progress,” USA Today, 4/16/15)

• “The Republican majority is rounding the first 100 days of the new Congress with notable — and rare — bipartisan accomplishments.” (“Congress, At Last, Makes Some Bipartisan Inroads,” Los Angeles Times, 4/15/15)

• “Republicans can boast some early successes that have encouraged lawmakers in both parties on the year ahead.” (“100 Days Of Congress: Stumbles But Signs Of Progress,” USA Today, 4/16/15)

•  “…U.S. Congress may actually be starting to do things. One-hundred days into the Republican takeover of Capitol Hill, even some hard-bitten politicians are musing hopefully over the prospect of getting work done...” (“Back-To-Back Victories Buck Up U.S. Congress, Tough Tests Ahead,” Reuters, 4/15/15)

• “A rash of bipartisanship has broken out in recent weeks on Capitol Hill… leaving lawmakers and Congress watchers alike wondering whether it’s the dawn of a promising era.” (“Republicans, Democrats Find Common Ground On Iran, Medicare, Education,” Washington Times, 4/15/15)

A ‘Legislative Bonanza Of Rare Proportions’

“For all the talk of the death of bipartisanship, Tuesday’s busy legislative day in the Senate provided quite the counter-argument. A little more than a day after returning from a two-week recess, the legislative dam burst, with senators making significant headway on sticky issues such as the Iran nuclear deal, a rewrite of the No Child Left Behind law, a replacement for the payment formula for doctors who treat Medicare patients” (“A Busy And Bipartisan Tuesday,” Roll Call, 4/14/15)

• “Tuesday produced legislative bonanza of rare proportions in the typically gummed-up Senate. Lawmakers successfully brokered a congressional oversight bill on Iran then, hours later, overwhelmingly passed a major Medicare bill that assembled by House leaders.” (“After Bipartisan Bonanza, Senate Goes Back To Bickering,” Politico, 4/15/15)

BUDGET: “Republicans are on track to approve by the end of April the first budget since 2009 and the first GOP budget since 2006. …it's an achievement for a party eager to earn the public's trust.” (“100 Days Of Congress: Stumbles But Signs Of Progress,” USA Today, 4/16/15)

• “Passage of the budget represents a victory for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), the Budget Committee chairman who carefully shepherded the plan through several political minefields in the upper chamber.” (“Senate Passes GOP budget After Marathon Of Amendment Votes,” The Hill, 3/27/15)

FOREIGN RELATIONS: “…[Sen. Bob] Corker's methodical style has paved the way for one of the biggest congressional assertions of foreign policy power in years. … In an old-school display of Senate committee power, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, aided by Democrats, unanimously steered legislation through the panel Tuesday that hands Congress a major role in any final U.S.-Iran deal to halt the country's alleged nuclear weapons program.” (“Bob Corker's Old-School Power Move,” National Journal, 4/14/15)

FINANCE: “Senior lawmakers reached agreement Thursday on a bipartisan trade promotion authority bill … Two Republicans — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan — negotiated for months on the ‘fast track’ trade legislation with Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat.” (“Lawmakers Strike Deal On Fast Track Trade Bill,” Politico, 4/16/15)

EDUCATION: “The Senate education committee's top lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a bipartisan plan to rewrite the long-outdated education law No Child Left Behind.” (“No Child Left Behind: Senators Unveil Bipartisan Agreement On Rewrite,” U.S. News, 4/7/15)

• “Sens. Alexander, Murray propose bipartisan measure to replace NCLB… The federal role in local schools would be significantly reduced under a bipartisan proposal released Tuesday by Senate leaders working to replace No Child Left Behind, the country’s main education law.” (“Sens. Alexander, Murray Propose Bipartisan Measure To Replace NCLB,” The Washington Post, 4/7/15)

HEALTH CARE: “The annual charade of blocking Clinton-era cuts to Medicare has officially ended.” (“The ‘F’ Word: Could Congress Become Functional?,” Fox News, 4/15/15)

• “Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah called passage of the bill a ‘major, major accomplishment.’” (“Medicare 'Doc Fix' Solved By Bipartisan Senate Vote,” CNN, 4/14/15)

ENERGY: Led by Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) “Republicans easily steered their bill to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline out of the Senate energy committee Thursday…” (“Pipeline Bill Is Headed To Vote,” Dallas Morning News, 1/9/2015)

• “The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's 13-9 vote to approve the measure - with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin the lone Democrat crossing party lines to back the bill…” (“Panel's Passage Of Keystone Bill Sets Up Bigger Fight,” The Houston Chronicle, 1/9/2015)

Going Forward ‘Promise On A Number Of Policy Fronts’

“There is promise on a number of policy fronts where bipartisan efforts are underway, particularly in the Senate...” (“100 Days Of Congress: Stumbles But Signs Of Progress,” USA Today, 4/16/15)

• “Senate Intelligence Committee leaders Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., worked together to approve out of committee on a 14-1 vote last month legislation that would enhance the nation's cybersecurity laws.” (“100 Days Of Congress: Stumbles But Signs Of Progress,” USA Today, 4/16/15)
• “Senate Environment and Public Works Committee leaders James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. — two of the Senate's most philosophically opposed duos — are working together to advance a long-term highway bill this year.” (“100 Days Of Congress: Stumbles But Signs Of Progress,” USA Today, 4/16/15)