WMAL Interview - SUSAN FERRECHIO - 01.03.18

 INTERVIEW – SUSAN FERRECHIO – chief congressional correspondent for the Washington Examiner

    Infrastructure, welfare reform, and immigration are on Congress’ agenda for 2018.  (Washington Examiner) – With tax reform in the rearview mirror, the Republican-led House and Senate in 2018 have a packed schedule ahead of the midterms, and will attempt to tackle immigration reform, infrastructure spending, welfare reform, and healthcare legislation.
    Wednesday: WH, Congressional leaders to begin talks: Bipartisan DACA talks set to commence with White House (Politico) — Democratic and Republican congressional leaders will meet Wednesday with top White House officials as they attempt to hammer out a deal to avert a government shutdown and resolve an impasse on immigration. The meeting, confirmed by two sources familiar with the planning, was initially expected to include President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, John Kelly, but a White House spokesman said legislative affairs director Marc Short and budget director Mick Mulvaney would represent the president.
    Hatch announces retirement. Senator Romney?  (Politico) — Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican senator, announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection in November. The move sets the stage for a likely run for his Utah seat by former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
    Romney, who is formerly a governor of the state of Massachusetts, changed the “location” in his Twitter account from Massachusetts to Holladay, Utah.
    Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, will not seek re-election in November, telling the Washington Examiner that he wants to focus exclusively on working with President Trump to pass a massive infrastructure bill before he retires.
    AXIOS: House Republicans keep announcing 2018 departures. There are now 18 retiring Republicans and 7 Democrats. 25 retiring representatives is higher than the average in the last five election cycles.
    ON CONGRESS’S PLATE

    Fund government by 1/19
    Defense / non-defense caps
    Extend CHIP
    Flood insurance
    DACA / the WALL
    Obamacare stabilization
    Disaster relief
    Address FISA expirations
    Lift debt ceiling