TSS 2020 Federal Policy Outlook

January 27, 2020
By Troutman Pepper

Happy New Year from Troutman Sanders Strategies! The Troutman Sanders Strategies Washington, D.C. team is pleased to release the following outlook and analysis of policy issues that Congress and President Trump’s administration may address in 2020 as well as other significant events that will shape the second session of the 116th Congress.

CLICK HERE to read the full Federal Policy Outlook.

Although the House voted in December to impeach the President with no Republican votes, Congress did end 2019 on a note of bipartisanship by passing all twelve of the annual spending bills to complete fiscal year (FY) 2020 federal government funding. Republicans and Democrats both took home policy wins, including nearly equal increases in defense and domestic funding and a bipartisan agreement to raise the minimum age to legally buy tobacco to 21.

At the start of the year, all eyes were on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and when she would send the articles of impeachment over to the Senate to formally prompt a trial of President Donald Trump. The House voted to send over the articles, and Speaker Pelosi appointed House impeachment managers on Wednesday, January 15. The Senate voted on the rules for the impeachment trial in the late hours of Tuesday, January 21, and proceedings are ongoing. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over the trial, though he will likely not take any substantive role.

Ahead of the November 3, 2020 Presidential elections, both political parties will focus on issues and legislation that will appeal to voter bases. However, ample room for bipartisan policy work remains, as both parties also need to demonstrate their ability to govern and to legislate. Meanwhile, President Trump is preparing for his fourth State of the Union address scheduled for February 4, which will lay out his administration’s goals over the year heading into his reelection campaign.

The Troutman Sanders Strategies team hopes you and your organizations find this outlook informative and a useful tool. It is expected to be an exciting, if not hectic, election year.

The information contained in this report is up to date as of Thursday, January 23. Please be aware that some issues in this report are ongoing and information may change rapidly.