SGI Government Affairs Activities This Past Week

On Tuesday evening, September 9th, Edwina Rogers, the Government Affairs Fellow for the Secular Global Institute, attended the Annual Fall Reception of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The event was held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. She had numerous conversations with the more than twenty Democratic senators present.

On Wednesday morning, September 11th, Edwina attended the Center-Right Coalition Meeting held by Grover Norquist at Americans for Tax Reform. The event is attended by senior House and Senate Republican staff. There was much conversation about the recent primaries. Louisiana is the only state left that has not had its primary. There are open Senate seat elections in West Virginia, South Dakota, and Montana. In all three races the Republican candidate is significantly ahead. The National Republican Congressional Committee reported on House races. All political pundits are predicting that the Republicans will add seats in the House and the Senate during midterm elections in November.

The House will be focused on a jobs bill. They have passed and sent to the Senate approximately 40 bills that the House Republican members believe will create jobs. None have passed the Senate. The House plans to combine 20 of those into one bill, have one vote, and then send it to the Senate. The House is working on a continuing resolution that would keep all spending at its current level and put off the final budget vote until December 11, 2014. The House is also working on energy packages. The President may have to bring the House of Representatives back for a Continuing Resolution vote if this is not handled before the upcoming recess. This move would prevent a government shutdown. The Senate is working on minimum wage, paycheck fairness, and a bill to undo the Hobby Lobby Supreme Court decision regarding contraceptives.

On Wednesday afternoon, September 10th, Edwina attended a Republican National Lawyers Association luncheon hosted by the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senator Jerry Moran. Chairman Moran spoke on how the ongoing races are shaping up for Republican candidates.